“The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).

Sometimes life has unexpected trials. Years ago I was a police chaplain. One of the most difficult parts of that ministry was stepping onto the front porch and listening to the sounds of a family inside their home going about their routines. They were laughing, talking, and watching television together. As soon as my partner and I rang the doorbell, any resemblance to routine would quickly be shattered with the news I had to share. As soon as they saw a police officer and police chaplain, they knew there was trouble. The word “trouble” in our verse today is tsarah which describes very hard times. This word in the Old Testament is translated “trouble” 44 times, “distress” 8 times, “affliction” 7 times, and “adversity” 5 times. For the believer, when such situations arise, the Lord Himself will be our refuge. He’s bigger than anything that could ever come into our lives. You can trust Him today. He really is a refuge in trouble.

For today: Have you read Nahum 1:7 lately? It has a great promise for hard days.