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.