God is our refuge.

Alone, afraid, and living in a turbulent home at age thirteen, I sought shelter under my blankets. Haunted by the threat of violence, my heart trembled. Confused and weighted with burdens beyond my maturity, I tried to be strong, alone. There was no one I could turn to—until Jesus made himself known to me and gave me new hope.

Shelter from the Storm

Only a few months later, in the midst of facing my familiar daily fears, came the shocking news: my grandmother had been murdered. It was terrifying. It came out of no where. How would I survive? How do any of us survive the hardships and threats of life? I needed a shelter from the storm. I longed for help.

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 (Psalm 46:1–2).

Fight Fear with Fear

As insurmountable trouble in my home and heart attempted to steal my hope in God, it felt as if the earth was giving way. Exhausted and weak, something began to shift in my heart. God was inviting me to find safety in his arms. Scared and tenderly calling out for help, my rescuer was near. I had to fight my fears with fear of the Lord.

If all I had was Jesus, I had everything.

God ignited a fight in my heart to not give in to fear, but to trust his love to protect me. Beautifully, God confirmed to me that he is all that I need. All other potential saviors were stripped away. False hopes, security, love, comfort—all absent. I realized that it was just Jesus and me.

Struggles and Hope 

Suddenly, my heart filled with hope. If all I had was Jesus, I had everything. Jesus is my God and he loves me. He is my rescuer, redeemer, and a very present help in trouble. No amount of chaos can steal my salvation in Christ (Rm. 8:38-39).

That all happened 22 years ago, though I remember it like it was yesterday. Joy had replaced the darkness in my heart as I ran to my refuge. Often, I still struggle with fear today. But, with God himself as my shield my battle is always won. Fear of the Lord is a beautiful and brutal battle of the heart. As long as I live, sneaky fears of this life will try to threaten the safe place of trusting in God. To fight those fears is to believe that Christ has already won the battle and that he will continue to redeem my heart in the midst of it.

What fears are in your life? How can you fight them with fear of the Lord?