Tuesday...March 31, 2020 | God...a Place of Refuge During the Coronavirus

​Hello everyone…and how are you doing today? I hope that you are all doing fine….and even more; I pray that you are experiencing the loving and powerful presence of God in your day.
As we begin our time together, I’ve been thinking on how this Coronavirus can seem like the worse storm ever…one that seems endless…and one that is trying it’s hardest to beat us up and whip us around in life. Storms like these can make us want to seek shelter, in a place where we aren’t affected by the blunt of the storm.
As I’ve been thinking on this more…I came to see how easily we can find ourselves taking refuge in a broken down shelter (Coronavirus). You ask me how? It actually happens, when we get caught up in the storm. In other words…for every thought that draws us deeper into the problem…those thoughts only become bits and pieces of a make shift shelter…one that is not sturdy and safe to be in; but rather, one that keeps us closer in touch with the storm.
Before coming on here…to spend some time with you today, I was looking for a Bible verse that would encourage us all…and from there; God led me to a Bible verse in Psalm 9:9, which reads… “The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”
You know…I remember a time in my life, when I found myself in one of these broken down shelters. All the negativity…and all my thoughts had placed me in a shelter, where the roof was leaking, with cracks in the walls…and an open window, where I was definitely feeling the blunt of the storm that I was facing.
As I looked out the window…the ground around me seemed barren and the sky grew darker and darker, as the rain seeped through the cracks and the wind attempted to whip me around within this make shift shelter. It seemed that the more I looked out that window and focused on the storm…the more I began to fear the storm that was headed my way…that is, until I began to pour my heart out to God and cry out for His help, from the very depth of my being.  Within a short time, God did come to me…and He lifted me out of the shelter that was about to collapse upon me…and from there, He carried me off on wings of love…and transported me to a place, where I could take refuge in Him, until the storm had passed.
Today, I wonder how many of us are unknowingly taking refuge in the Coronavirus. In other words…have our thoughts and negative thinking drawn us into a broken down shelter that is not safe…one that could eventually collapse with time. You know…it’s so easy to be drawn into these make shift shelters; believe me, I know; but there is hope…that is, if we are willing to try, rather than give up.
There is one thing I definitely know about God…He can be the strongest and safest shelter, during times like these…for as we focus on Him, rather than the problem; we will be drawn closer to Him, where He can truly shelter us, with the wings that first brought us to His side.
As we close our time together today, may I encourage you to take refuge in God, rather than what is going on around us…for He can truly be a shelter for the oppressed…and a refuge in times of trouble.
Today, if you are looking to find shelter in God…a place where you can be free from all that is attempting to take you down; then you must first turn to Him, during these difficult times, rather than focusing on all the debris that is attempting to take you down through this storm. Once you choose to do so; that is where you will definitely find peace and safety, in the midst of this storm.
Have a great day everyone…and remember that God loves you so much! Take care and I will hope to be with you soon!
Many…many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

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