September 21, 2023

Hello Advent Family,

Do you have a safe place or a safe person?  A place or person where you run to when life gets tough.  Maybe it’s a trusted friend that you go to when life feels overwhelming.  Perhaps it is a retreat to the beach or a quiet coffee shop to be alone with your thoughts.  Sometimes we are just weary and need rest in our lives.  For David that safe space was God.  Whether he was afraid, or overwhelmed, or even angry, he would cry out to God.  The Psalms are filled with references to God being this for David.  Let’s look together at one occurrence in Psalm 62.

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down—
    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

God is referred to as David’s rock, refuge, fortress and salvation in this brief passage.  He can be that for each one of us when we turn to Him during times of need.  It is good to have trusted friends or places to go to when life gets hard but the cool thing is that God walks right there with us through the challenging times of life.  He offers to carry our burdens for us and be our safe place always. 
 
In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

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