Our Refuge While We Wait
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
Last summer I chaperoned my son’s camp trip to Sesame Place. Because I’m lowkey a child, I was more excited to go on this trip than he was. Unfortunately, no sooner than 30 minutes after arriving at the park, I started to feel raindrops and we ran with some other families from his camp to find shelter under some huge cabanas. As the rain grew from a sprinkle to downpour, I noticed that some of the park-goers weren’t pressed about finding shelter, but instead wandered around hoping that the rain would let up.
That day at Sesame Place taught me two things about finding refuge in a storm. One lesson was don’t waste time being in denial about the storm, seek refuge from the storm. As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc globally, “false prophets” inside and outside of the church are encouraging people to deny reality and go back to “business as usual” because reality is currently terrifying. And personally, there is a strong and relentless temptation to soothe my fears with denial about the gravity of this pandemic and how long it will last, instead of running to God and His sure promises for refuge. I’ve had to remind myself that using denial as a coping mechanism is not the same thing as placing my faith in the rock-solid promises of God. Nahum 1:7 reminds us we are deeply and perfectly known by the God in whom we take refuge in. The refuge that God offers in this surreal season will perfectly fit our particular experience of this storm because the Holy Spirit snitches to God the Father when we pray (Romans 8:26, John 10:27) so that God can speak the exact words that will bring peace even in this storm. When our hearts are overwhelmed with a mixture of fear, anxiety, sadness, and helplessness (which leads to despair), I remind myself that God never promised his people that we wouldn’t suffer, but that God sees us, loves us will help us endure in the midst of suffering (Psalm 91:14-15). When my mother and father tested positive for COVID-19 last month and were hospitalized, I had to remind myself that God was with me even in the midst of my fear, anger, and doubt, bidding me to come closer (John 20:27).
The second thing I learned was who you seek refuge with while you wait matters. We’ve all been there. You’re stuck on the subway, late for work, cursing under your breath, and then you see a friend standing right across from you. While yall are kiki-ing and catching up, you barely notice that the train is still delayed and tune out the conductor’s announcements. You actually get sad as your stop approaches. The presence and company of your friend puts the wait in perspective. And while we wait for our children to return to school, as we wait for a potential COVID-19 vaccine, and ultimately as we wait for a return to a very “different normal”, we are waiting with a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Jesus, our great high priest who sympathizes with us in our weaknesses, is currently waiting with us, listening intently as we pray (Psalm 116:1-2), ever ready to offer the grace and mercy that we so desperately need. Run to him.