Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
The thing that's so interesting about this verse is the writer is talking about life in reference to his enemies. Start thinking about this awareness in the middle of a season of time where they are being challenged and affronted by who they would describe as people who are against them. This is a sort of awareness that is absolutely necessary to anchor yourself in the middle of a storm. To say that You are my strength and I wait for You to rescue me in turbulent times is an imagery that I think is important for us to take hold of.
Weathering the Storm
Imagine being on a boat, and the boat is in waters that begin to slowly grow in turbulence. The waves and the wind are starting to crash along the sides of the boat. Obviously, just that imagery being painted for some of us starts to bring on anxiety. You start to feel the tension of it because in the middle of a season of time where chaos ensues and you're in turbulent waters, you start to feel like the anxiety and the worry in the moment can overtake your life.
Imagine being in the middle of a storm where all of the wind and all of the waves are crashing around you, and you can have the awareness to say, "God, I'm waiting for you to rescue me."
The Challenge of Waiting
Here's what's challenging about that idea. You and I both know if we go with that boat imagery, that as the wind is blowing and the waves are hitting the sides, it can start to feel like, "Okay, I'm willing to wait for a minute," but if it takes a little bit longer, I might be ready to jump over the side, try to take things into my own hands, and figure a way out of this.
Have the resolve, knowing with certainty there is a rescuer, He is coming, and no matter what it looks like or feels like in the middle of chaos and turbulence, I will wait for Him. Not only will I wait for the rescuer, there is no other rescue available unless He shows up.
This is what the writer is talking about in a time that is filled with challenge and trial. I will wait for You to rescue me. For You, God, are my fortress.
Our Fortress of Protection
A fortress gives us imagery of a place to hide in, to be protected. I think about how wonderful it is to walk in on my kids sometimes when they're in the living room, building a fortress out of the pillows on the couch. Sometimes my wife's not ready for that to happen because we'd rather have the house clean but when I see the satisfaction, especially on my middle son's face when he peeks his head out of the fortress, it just makes my heart so happy.
I'm just so ready for them to keep building because he feels safe in this fortress. It's a place of protection. When he gets in there, all nestled in, sometimes he'll stay in there for a while because he knows that the world around him can do nothing to him while he's in his little fortress.
This is what the writer is saying about the true nature of God. He's our fortress. He is our hiding place in the middle of all of life's trials and all of the turbulence and chaos. He is where we rest and find our hope and peace.
I hope that today, as you're thinking about this verse, it encourages you to take solace that the rescuer's coming and we can find safety and strength in Him.
