Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Think of a time where you were ready to tap out. You were out of gas. You were tired—and not just physically tired, but you wanted soul rest. Not just physical rest, but soul rest.
Where Do You Run When You're Worn Out?
Where do you run to when you're worn out? Because we live in a culture that encourages us, when we're tired and weary, to self-medicate—even to self-destruct. In our verse today, I love what David says because he says, "God is my strong fortress." David wants us to understand that the first place we ought to run to is God.
Why? Because He is a strong fortress. A fortress is a place of protection, and when God is our fortress, He is a safe place. Why is that important to understand? It’s because when I'm anxious, when I'm trying to navigate life and I'm confused and I need direction, there is a safe place I can process with God. I can take my pain to God knowing that He understands me, and the Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 15 that God empathizes with us.
God Knows Us
One of the greatest joys is knowing that God gets us, and that He's not tired of me just because I'm going to Him with the same thing over and over. In my life, I've noticed when I'm anxious or when I'm tired, I often turn to food and sports, and sometimes that in and of itself can be an idol because I go there first instead of God.
God wants us to get to a place in our lives where the first place that we run to is not social media. It's not our friends, not our families. It's God. This is what I love about David—he says, "God is my strong fortress." He didn't say, "God is our strong fortress." This is a song of David, and if you read this whole chapter, he's expressing a heart of gratitude. He's thankful for the protection of God, and he's able to say that God is my strong fortress.
Can You Say That Today?
Can you say that today? Can you say that He's your strong fortress? When you're out of gas, when you're out of strength and you're wondering, where do I turn to?—let God be the place that you turn to. I can tell you this: God empathizes with us. There's peace in the presence of God. There's joy that's found in the presence of God. I pray that God will be your ultimate source of strength.
Yes, God has given us a church as a community, and it's there to help us. Ultimately, we need to get to a place in life where we turn to God first. Let the Lord be your main source of strength.