“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.” Psalm 16:1

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble.” Psalm 32:7a

Our granddaughter Renee, when she was little, was afraid of animals. All animals terrified her. We didn’t know why. She just was.

Pat, our youngest daughter, was still living at home and had talked me into letting her have a cat. A white cat she named Ugali. This cat had the run of the house. My house rules had changed considerably since we moved off the farm.

When Renee came over, we would generally lock the cat in one of the bedrooms, but occasionally Ugali would get out and wander into the kitchen where we were visiting. When Renee noticed the cat she would run as fast as she could to the closest adult and get on their lap, tuck her feet up into their lap and make herself as small as possible. She “took refuge” in the arms of an adult she trusted. We were her “hiding place”.

We did not scold her for being scared. We would put our arms around her and talk to her softly, comfort her until she was brave enough to go and play again.

Now we knew that the cat had no intentions of harming that little child. But she didn’t know that, so we merely held her.

I believe God is even more gentle with us. We can come to Him with our fears, whether they are real or imagined. He will surround us with His loving arms, talk softly to us, and strengthen us until we are brave enough to face the world again.

Thank You, Lord, for being our refuge when we are afraid, whether it is real or imagined. Thank You that You are our hiding place. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

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