Finding True Refuge in Jesus Amid Life's Storms

Devotional

Day 1: True Refuge in Jesus

In times of trouble, people often seek comfort in temporary things, but true refuge is found in Jesus. He invites us to run to Him, offering a safe haven and a source of strength. By prioritizing our relationship with Him, we can experience His peace amidst life's chaos. This is a journey of learning to put Jesus first, especially when our initial reactions may not align with our faith. Reflecting on personal experiences, such as moments of panic, we realize that our first instinct might be to reach for temporary comforts before turning to prayer and seeking God's presence. This struggle is common, but Jesus calls us to find solace in Him, the true refuge. [02:08]

Psalm 62:5-8 (ESV): "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

Reflection: What temporary comforts do you often turn to in times of trouble? How can you intentionally choose to seek refuge in Jesus instead today?

Day 2: Breaking Generational Cycles

Our past experiences with trust and safety can impact our relationship with God. By reframing our understanding of God as a safe and loving Father, we can break generational cycles and become safe people for others, fostering a community of trust and support. This involves recognizing how our past influences our present faith journey and making a conscious effort to change. It is about becoming a safe person for others, reflecting God's love and trustworthiness. This transformation is not only for personal growth but also for the benefit of those around us, creating a ripple effect of trust and safety. [05:46]

Isaiah 58:12 (ESV): "And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in."

Reflection: Consider a generational cycle in your family that you wish to break. How can you begin to reflect God's trustworthiness and love in this area today?

Day 3: God's Presence as Our Fortress

Psalm 46 assures us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. His presence is like a river of abundance and security, providing confidence even when the world seems to be falling apart. This imagery emphasizes that God's presence is our true refuge, not just for the ancient Israelites but for us today through Jesus, who dwells within us as the new temple space. We are called to trust in Him, silencing the voices of doubt and fear, and embracing the rhythm of repentance, obedience, and worship. [08:05]

Nahum 1:7 (ESV): "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him."

Reflection: When faced with fear and doubt, how can you remind yourself of God's presence as your fortress? What practical steps can you take to silence those voices today?

Day 4: The Invitation to Rest in Jesus

Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him. His heart is gentle, and He offers rest for our souls. This invitation is a call to live in His presence, finding peace and security in His love. It is not just a call to devotion but a call to be still and know that He is God. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded that refuge is not found in places or things but in the person of Jesus. He is our guide, our strength, and our ever-present help. By running to Him, we find the peace and security we desperately seek. [30:10]

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

Reflection: What burdens are you carrying that you need to lay down at Jesus' feet? How can you accept His invitation to rest today?

Day 5: Living as the Temple of God

As followers of Jesus, we are the new temple space where God's presence dwells. This profound truth calls us to live in a way that reflects His love and power, trusting in His guidance and strength as we navigate life's challenges. It is a call to embody the presence of God in our daily lives, allowing His love to flow through us to others. This involves a commitment to live in His presence, embracing the rhythm of repentance, obedience, and worship, and trusting in His guidance and strength. [21:29]

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

Reflection: How can you live today as a reflection of God's temple, allowing His presence to guide your actions and interactions with others?

Sermon Summary

In the midst of life's storms, we often find ourselves running to various sources of comfort and refuge. The question is, where do we truly find solace? Reflecting on personal experiences, such as the moment of panic upon hearing about a loved one's medical emergency, we often realize that our initial reactions may not align with our faith. We might reach for temporary comforts before turning to prayer and seeking God's presence. This journey of learning to put Jesus first is a common struggle, especially for those who have never had a safe person to rely on. Our relationship with God can be influenced by our past experiences with trust and safety, but we are encouraged to break generational cycles and become safe people for others.

Psalm 46 reminds us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Even when the world seems to be falling apart, we can find confidence in His presence. The imagery of a river flowing through the city of God symbolizes abundance and security, emphasizing that God's presence is our true refuge. This assurance is not just for the ancient Israelites but extends to us today through Jesus, who dwells within us as the new temple space. We are called to trust in Him, silencing the voices of doubt and fear, and embracing the rhythm of repentance, obedience, and worship.

In our struggles, Jesus invites us to come to Him, to take His yoke upon us, and learn from Him. His heart is gentle, and He offers rest for our souls. This invitation is not just a call to devotion but a call to live in His presence, to be still and know that He is God. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded that refuge is not found in places or things but in the person of Jesus. He is our guide, our strength, and our ever-present help. By running to Him, we find the peace and security we desperately seek.

Key Takeaways

1. Finding True Refuge: In times of trouble, we often seek comfort in temporary things, but true refuge is found in Jesus. He invites us to run to Him, offering a safe haven and a source of strength. By prioritizing our relationship with Him, we can experience His peace amidst life's chaos. [02:08]
2. Breaking Generational Cycles: Our past experiences with trust and safety can impact our relationship with God. By reframing our understanding of God as a safe and loving Father, we can break generational cycles and become safe people for others, fostering a community of trust and support. [05:46]
3. God's Presence as Our Fortress: Psalm 46 assures us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. His presence is like a river of abundance and security, providing confidence even when the world seems to be falling apart. [08:05]
4. The Invitation to Rest in Jesus: Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him. His heart is gentle, and He offers rest for our souls. This invitation is a call to live in His presence, finding peace and security in His love. [30:10]
5. Living as the Temple of God: As followers of Jesus, we are the new temple space where God's presence dwells. This profound truth calls us to live in a way that reflects His love and power, trusting in His guidance and strength as we navigate life's challenges. [21:29]
** [21:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - Where Do You Run?
[02:08] - Personal Story of Seeking Comfort
[03:02] - Putting Jesus First
[04:36] - Breaking Generational Cycles
[05:46] - Becoming a Safe Person
[07:20] - Psalm 46: God as Refuge
[08:05] - Confidence in God's Presence
[10:09] - Trusting God in Trials
[12:15] - The Switch of Trust
[13:28] - Silencing the Voice of Doubt
[16:00] - Peace in God's Presence
[19:19] - God's Presence Among Us
[21:29] - Living as God's Temple
[23:21] - Be Still and Know
[25:26] - Jesus' Promise of the Spirit
[27:56] - Abiding in Jesus' Love
[30:10] - Invitation to Rest in Jesus
[32:25] - Carrying Our Burdens with Jesus
[34:10] - Practical Steps to Run to Jesus
[37:03] - Community and Journaling
[38:58] - Gratitude and Trust
[41:05] - Refuge in Jesus, Our Guide
[41:44] - Following Jesus

Sermon Clips

"Who do you run to? What do you run to? Well, we'll use words like this. What takes the edge off or what soothes you or where do you, to whom do you run? Hmm. It was about 14 years ago and I was in a, I was at Alderwood Mall, which some of you have been there. I mean, fabulous place." [00:01:11] (26 seconds)

"Maybe you had safe people to run to, and maybe you didn't. And as I've been exploring this, and as we'll be talking over just this month of January specifically, those things and how you learned, whether you're a Christian or not, whether people were safe for you really do correlate to how you connect with God. We say, trust God. You can have an intimate relationship with God. And you're like, well, that'd be the first one, right? That'd be the first intimate relationship I ever had. That'd be the first person I ever trusted. And so there's hurdles there, and that's okay." [00:03:22] (35 seconds)

"As you run to the Father and abide in his love, be anchored to Christ, you can become that safe person and you can stop some cycles. I just want to encourage you. It doesn't have to. Continue on. But some of you were indeed raised by wolves. And if you're raised by wolves, that also means you're harassed by wolves. It's just the way you go. Some of you have unhoused friends that are facing the cold of the winter." [00:05:57] (31 seconds)

"God, there's a creator God, is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way. Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the most high." [00:07:52] (33 seconds)

"I just want to do a quick paraphrase of this. God is our refuge and strength, and we turn to him for confidence when the world seems to be falling apart. When everything descends into chaos, as nations get swallowed up and kings perish, our king will save us. Now this is from very much the perspective of Israel, but Jerusalem, Zion will be our refuge. In fact, God is our refuge, and living in his presence means happy hearts and abundance. While the world falls to pieces, God makes us confident." [00:09:16] (40 seconds)

"There's a voice that needs to be silenced. So there's a switch that needs to be flipped and a voice that needs to be silenced. And words like this can remind us. We say, my God is my refuge and my strength. He is my present help in trouble. Therefore, I will not fear, though the earth gives way. Because what does the other voice say?" [00:13:28] (25 seconds)

"There's a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation, the place where God's presence was made known. It's secured by God. His presence is like a peaceful river flowing through a city, plenty of abundance. In your homework, I asked you to kind of think through, what if you were under siege, but you still had a river flowing through your city? You'd be like, well, I think we're going to be okay." [00:16:20] (27 seconds)

"And as we've talked about before, congratulations, if you are in Christ, you are the new temple space where the terrifying, amazing, awesome, comforting, beautiful power of God dwells. How many of you feel worthy of that task? No, there's no way your temple space could be occupiable because it's profane. It's filthy. It's dirty. No offense. Mine is too." [00:21:55] (33 seconds)

"Jesus claimed himself to be the temple, the very temple space of God, and then he transitions that to have his people be the temple space of God, and then says, as you do the work of the patriarchs, which is to bring the blessing to all the nations, as you go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teach them to obey everything I've commanded you, and I'm with you all the way to the end." [00:26:53] (31 seconds)

"Are you carrying a big load on your back? Come to me. I'll give you a rest. Pick up my yoke and put it on. Take lessons from me. My heart is gentle, not arrogant. You'll find the rest you deeply need. My yoke is easy to wear. My load is easy to bear. I didn't really translate the word yoke for you, did it?" [00:29:49] (26 seconds)

"Some of you are like, yeah, that's what I needed. I just need to remember. I need to turn from this. I need to go to that. I need to stop going there to, quote, unquote, take the edge off. If I could just entertain myself or soothe myself, or if I could just, then I could just, then I could kind of get settled down. And Jesus says, right here, I'm right here. Come to me." [00:33:20] (19 seconds)

"Refuge is not a place. It's a person. And so, Jesus, if your presence goes before us, we'll go into that place. If you're going to head there, we will take that hill because the Lord is our guide and our refuge. And he comes with us when we leave. And Jesus said, follow me. Some of you need to just leave your boats and your nets and your life and your worries and your concerns and just follow him." [00:41:28] (33 seconds)

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