I have asked the Lord for one thing — this is what I desire! I want to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple. He will surely give me shelter in the day of danger; he will hide me in his home. He will place me on an inaccessible rocky summit.
Psalm 27:4-5 (NET)
Have you ever felt abandoned? There is no doubt that each one of us has probably felt a sense of uncertainty, loneliness, or even fear at one time or another. We may have also become distraught or worrisome because of our situation or thought that God is unaware of our circumstances. Remember, God is with us! We are not abandoned!
The Psalmist often had such feelings and would cry out to God when faced with dealings that were too hard to handle. Despite what he may have been experiencing, he never forgot who God was. He proclaimed, “The Lord is my light and my salvation. I fear no one. The Lord protects my life.” Psalm 27:1 NET
The Psalmist longed to be in the company of his Lord. He felt a sense of safety tucked inside the coverings of the tabernacle, especially when confronted with the perils of the day. His heart was bent on worshipping and “gazing upon the beauty of the Lord.” (vs. 4) He wrapped his concerns up in gifts of praise and worship.
Not only did he long to be in the Lord’s presence, but he also was not afraid to make the longings of his heart known. He trusted the Lord to protect him (vs. 5) and to act upon his cries for help. The Lord still today stands ready to listen and to respond to us in times of great need. We must be willing to make our request known and trust Him to act according to the promises of His Word.
We should be like the Psalmist who finds confidence in God's ability to fight the battle raging around us. Don’t live in fear. Choose to abide in the presence of God. Let Him be your Protector. He will hide you safely, sheltered and secure in His home.
Remember, God wants to hide you in the cleft of the rock. So, go boldly to the throne of grace and let him know what you need. He will replace your fear with calm assurance.
1. How might you turn your feelings of fear into complete trust and belief that God will be all that He says He will be?
2. When faced with hurdles of uncertainty and possible danger, how might your gift of worship turn God’s ear to the cries of your heart?
Father God, help me to trust you more each day. Let my heart find protection and peace in the comfort of your home. In the powerful name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
