Remain in God’s Shelter

 

Jeremiah 17:7 (NLT)
“Lord, don’t terrorize me! You alone are my hope in the day of disaster. Bring shame and dismay on all who persecute me, but don’t let me experience shame and dismay.”

Have you ever felt like the world is spinning out of control, or like you’re walking on a tightrope and the ground below you is shifting? That’s the kind of feeling that hits when we face uncertainty, right? You’re not sure what’s coming next and that feeling makes your heart race and stomach churn. In those moments, we can feel exposed and vulnerable. The idea that someone or something might take advantage of that vulnerability is scary, especially if it’s someone who wants us to suffer.

Jeremiah knew what it felt like to be in trouble. He lived in a time where being caught off guard was a real threat. As God’s prophet, he often found himself at odds with his society, speaking truth in places where truth wasn’t welcome. He could feel the weight of enemies, both physical and spiritual, closing in on him. And in moments of distress, he cried out for God to protect him, to keep him from falling into shame and falling into the hands of those who would seek to destroy him.

In his cry, you can hear a deep, raw honesty. It’s not just a simple plea for God’s protection, but a desperate request to also preserve his dignity and faith. He wanted to remain in God’s shelter because he understood it to be the place where he could be safe from the storm and find refuge from the chaos and ridicule. He didn’t want to be exposed in such a way that would make him vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks. He knew that without God’s shelter, he would be an easy target.

This is something we can relate to. None of us like feeling like we’ve been blindsided, or like we're out there alone without a solid defense. But when those moments come, we’ve got to remember that our vulnerabilities are actually the places where our faith in God can shine the brightest. It’s beautiful to remember that when it feels like we’re out there on that tightrope, we can reach out to God and grab onto Him with all that we are. Jeremiah’s prayer shows us that when we trust in the Lord, He becomes our shelter, our fortress, our place of safety.

The Psalmist said in Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT): “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him.” It’s so powerful to think about God as a refuge, a place where we don’t have to be afraid and where we can trust that even when the unknown is coming at us full speed, we can trust that He’s already there. God’s shelter isn’t just for physical safety; it’s for emotional, mental, and spiritual protection too. When we remain in His shelter, we’re not just hiding from the storm. We’re learning to stand firm in His strength. We’re developing deep roots in His love, and our hope and confidence grow. It’s not about us controlling the situation, it’s about knowing that no matter what comes, He has the power to hold us, keep us, and guide us through.

God said in Isaiah 41:10 (NLT): “Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Encouragement and promises like this flip the script on our perspective. Instead of looking at fear and uncertainty as something to avoid, it shows us that our confidence doesn’t come from knowing what’s going to happen next; it comes from knowing who is walking with us. Jeremiah says, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.” It’s a reminder that we’re not just safe because we’re hiding, but we’re blessed because we’re trusting. Trusting that God is with us even when the unexpected comes, even when the enemy looks like he’s winning.

That’s why when it comes to a constant fear of being caught off guard or falling into shame, we can kick that to the curb and never look back. Our trust in God’s shelter can give us a peace that surpasses all understanding, as Philippians 4:7 tells us. And when life’s storms do come, we can stand firm, knowing that in God’s shelter, we are never truly exposed. We’re always protected, always held, and always loved by our Heavenly Father. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Remain in God's Shelter” written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Nothing is Too Difficult with God

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NLT)
“Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

When Lavenia left her husband three years ago, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame, especially in front of her parents. Her mom and dad had never even considered divorce—they loved each other deeply, and Lavenia desperately wanted that same kind of love. Despite Devon's temper, she convinced herself he was the one. He had been verbally abusive, even during their dating days, but Lavenia was so head over heels in love with him that she couldn’t see the red flags. He was fine—chiseled like a model, with a face that seemed to be carved from perfection. Everywhere they went, women would stare, and Lavenia couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride to be on his arm. But her daddy, with his quiet wisdom, always had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right. He could see through the charm and knew deep down that Devon wasn’t the right man for his daughter.

Putting her down seemed to fill some sick need within Devon. He always made her feel as though she didn’t measure up to the women he was used to. But it wasn’t about her looks—she could’ve easily held her own with the women at his gym had makeup and designer clothes been her thing. The problem ran much deeper. It was her self-esteem, and the insecurity that gnawed at her from the inside out. When her marriage hit rock bottom, and she couldn’t take Devon’s abuse anymore, she fell into a very dark place. The emotional wounds left her feeling lost, and the problems just kept coming. Devon’s unfiltered comments had embarrassed her closest friends, and all her important relationships had been fractured. She was flat broke, drowning in bills, and struggling to find a way out.

It’s inevitable to experience hardships as children of God, but life can shock us with its turns and twists. Even when we get to know the person and things in our relationships don’t go the way we hoped, nothing can really prepare us for the emotional suffering that comes with being constantly belittled, gaslighted, and devalued. The hurt that builds up when someone repeatedly makes you feel insignificant can take a toll that’s often harder to heal than physical wounds. You can try to brush it off, but eventually, it becomes like a weight on your heart, draining your strength and leaving you feeling isolated.

The psalmist said in Psalm 6:6 (NLT), “I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.” There are moments when the emotional and mental toll of being mistreated can feel unbearable. In those times, we can be tempted to lose sight of our worth and question the love of God. That’s when our faith and trust in Him take a hit, and the tears flood our pillows at night. Yet, even in the darkest seasons of emotional pain, God’s Word gives us reminders of His faithfulness and His promise to never leave us. It’s easy to become so consumed by the hurt and the disappointment that we forget how deeply God cares for us.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) reminds us: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Praying about everything is key to maintaining peace of mind. Yes, it’s challenging to keep the faith when you’ve got so much coming at you, and on top of that, you’re dealing with shame and insecurity, but Jesus Christ knows our pain. He’s our hope and our help, and he tells us in Matthew 11:28 to bring all our burdens to him.

There’s nothing like the peace he gives us. We can’t do anything to earn or achieve it on our own. Swapping our burdens for his peace is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. God can handle all the mess, the confusion, and the chaos we go through. He knows that we make mistakes, and He understands that sometimes our lives just fall apart. Yet, He’s always right there—helping us hold it all together.

God is our rock, our fortress, and our refuge. When everything else seems unstable, He remains steadfast and unshakable. Nothing is too difficult for God. He has the power to carry us through even the hardest trials. All He asks of us is to keep the faith, to keep Him first in our hearts, and He will take care of the rest. When we trust in Him fully, we can be confident that He will turn our broken pieces into something beautiful. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Nothing Is Too Difficult for God” written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2024. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.