God: Our Refuge and Fortress

​

There is a place of protection and safety where believers can go, and that place is found in God.  “I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2 ESV).  God as a refuge provides protection for believers in times of sudden harm, danger, or distress. God as a fortress represents a place of safety that guards against outside attacks. David repeatedly described God as his refuge and fortress. One occasion was when David hid in a cave when he was fleeing from King Saul (1 Samuel 22:1; 24:1–3). The cave was the physical place where David hid, but David recognized God as his true refuge. In Psalm 57:1, David wrote, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by” (ESV). David recognized that he was in trouble in his current situation, so he trusted God to provide protection. He ran to God while he was in danger, not after trying to make a way for himself. He went to God first. He looked to God as baby chicks look to their mother hen. When they see a storm coming, they run under her wings until the storm passes over. The mother hen becomes a living shield of safety for her chicks. David found a hiding place in God. In Psalm 18:2, David described God as a rock. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (ESV). A cave surrounded David with rocks and provided temporary safety from the attacks of his enemy. Yet David understood that his ultimate security did not come from the rocks surrounding him. His security came from God, whom he called “my rock,” “my fortress,” “my shield,” and “my stronghold.” The cave may have provided shelter, but David gave the ultimate credit for his protection to God.

As with David, believers can trust God to be their refuge and fortress. This does not mean believers will never experience trouble, pain, or suffering, but it means they can remain secure in God while going through them. God is a place where believers can go in times of need. David knew he would be king one day. Therefore, he could view his current troubles as temporary. Until then, he trusted God with his life. Believers must also view their current troubles from an eternal perspective. Pain, stress, struggles, and sickness do not have the final word. Therefore, even during present difficulties, believers can focus on eternal and spiritual truths and look not at the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. “For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18, ESV). If you are outside of the protection and safety found in God, we invite you to place your faith in Jesus Christ, believing the good news of His life, death, burial, and resurrection. To grow in the knowledge of God’s promise, you are encouraged to find a Bible-believing local church where you can worship Christ, study God's Word, and pray with other believers.  “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act” (Psalm 37:5, ESV).

 

Let the church say amen!

​

Written by Dr. Pearlie Freeman

​

August 2026

​

Click here for additional articles.