God Is Your Safe Place
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” —Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
In the days following Hurricane Harvey’s devastating impact on Houston in 2017, families were seen clinging to rooftops, waiting to be rescued. One mother, stranded with her children, later shared that though the waters raged around them, she kept whispering Psalm 46:1 aloud: “God is our refuge and strength.” She said, “Even when the water rises, He rises higher.”[1]
Grief can feel like floodwaters—overwhelming, unrelenting, and impossible to escape. Psalm 46 doesn’t deny that troubles come. Instead, it introduces us to a God who meets us in those troubles. He isn’t a distant observer; He is our refuge—a shelter we can run into when the emotional storms hit. He is our strength when we have none left. And He is always ready to help.
This verse doesn't offer false hope that pain will vanish overnight. But it assures us that we are never left to face sorrow alone. Our God is not surprised by your heartbreak. He is present in the hospital room, at the graveside, in the silence of long nights, and in the tears that seem to have no end.
Knowing that God is both refuge and strength changes how we grieve. It doesn’t eliminate the sorrow, but it anchors our souls in something stronger than pain. God is our steady rock when life feels like it's crumbling beneath us.
Practical Application:
When the ache of loss feels too heavy, take a moment to speak Psalm 46:1 aloud. Let this truth settle into your heart. Write it somewhere visible as a daily reminder: “God is my refuge and strength!”
Reflection:
What does it mean to you personally that God is both your refuge and your strength? Where do you need His help most today?
Prayer:
Father, You are my shelter in every storm. When grief shakes me to my core, hold me steady. Remind me that You are close, strong, and always ready to help. Be my strength when I have none of my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read More: Nahum 1:7; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 91:1–2; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Philippians 4:13
Theme Tag: Hope in Grief and Loss
[1] Jason Hanna, Darran Simon, and Ralph Ellis, "Harvey aftermath: Houston hit with more flooding," CNN, August 30, 2017.
