Psalm 55:4-8
My heart is in anguish within me,
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
And I say, “O that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest; truly, I would flee far away;
I would lodge in the wilderness;
I would hurry to find a shelter for myself
from the raging wind and tempest.”

Reflection:
Think about some of the things that can be considered stressors in your everyday life. For some, it is finishing that huge project you’ve been putting off for weeks, or the stress of trying to support a family. I think we can all admit that we’ve had those times where we get tired, and we simply feel lost. As the passage says, it’s tempting to just fly away to our shelter. This can manifest for each of us in many ways. We might dive into a book or the newest television program to calm our anxieties. However, some fall into worldly temptations such as alcohol or other addiction to quell their struggles. It is in these times that we are reminded of God’s longing for us to grow closer to him, in spite of our efforts to find comfort in worldly desires. What would it look like to have God be your shelter?

Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for being our ever-lasting shelter. Your love and comfort is so much greater than any fear or anxiety. We pray that, in times of trial and stress, you guide us away from our temptations and provide a place of rest for our anguished hearts. Amen.

– Harrison Burgess