Closer to the Wall

Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Last week I was a substitute teacher for a second grade class for a few days. Our recess time was 2:00-2:30 P.M. That’s kind of late in the day but neither the children nor I were not about to complain.

The other second grade teachers and I sat beneath the awning of the building and enjoyed the shade and some adult conversation as we watched the kiddies have some much needed free play. The shelter was a refuge from the heat of the afternoon.  I noticed that as the thirty minutes elapsed the sun crept further and further in and we had less and less shade. We would move our chairs back a little closer to the wall of the building as we went through the recess time. Finally we were as close to the wall as the chairs would let us be. I would lean my head back on the wall as a little head support and enjoy what was left of the protection from the sun.

As I enjoyed the refuge at recess I thought of the above verse and some others in the Bible that talk about God as our refuge.

My God is my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my shelter and my place of safety. 2 Samuel 22:3

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my protection. He is my God and I trust Him.” Psalm 91:2

But for me, it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge. Psalm 72:28

Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; And
in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. Psalm 7:1

These verses and my imagination gave me a mental picture of the Lord as my refuge. Do you get same picture I do? Maybe not, but I’m a little weird like this. I have a picture of me sitting under the shadow of the Lord’s protection (like the shelter on the playground at school.) I see the forces that are detrimental to me creeping in on me (like the sun creeping in on the shade at school.) Then I see me scooting closer to the Lord Jesus, deeper into His protection, nearer to Him and His safety (like scooting closer to the wall at school.) Until I’m right next to Him resting my head on Him (like the wall in the little bit of shade at school.) See? I told you I’m a little weird. But I like this picture.

God is my refuge. He is the definition of refuge. He is my shelter, protection, help and relief. He is my rock and my wall. I want to stay as close to Him as possible.

That’s me scooting closer to the wall.

You can scoot closer too.

There’s always room for one more in His shade.