Run Hard To Your Refuge!

July 7, 2026

“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him.” Psalm 37:39-40

Run Hard To Your Refuge!

A friend and I were going to visit a family that lived on a farm a few miles west of town. My friend called to confirm the time and then we were off to make a visit on behalf of our church.

As we bounced down the gravel road in his little Datsun pickup, my friend told me about the family; I was excited to meet them! In a few minutes, we pulled into the yard, hopped out of his pickup, and began making our way to the door.

Suddenly, what looked like a Shetland pony came out of nowhere and began running toward us. The problem was it was not a pony. It was the largest dog I had ever seen; a beast from the dark-side barking, snarling, growling, and ready to tear us apart.

A woman was standing on the front porch screaming, “Get back in the car! He’ll eat you up! Get back in the car!” In the midst of the Satanic snarling, a screaming woman, and the pounding of my heart, I could hear my friend calling out for Jesus to save us.

I ran as fast as I could for the pickup. My only hope was that my friend was running slower than me. The good news is we both made it! As we sat in the pickup with the face of the beast plastered to the side window, I was scared out of my mind. I was no longer in the mood to make a visit on behalf of Jesus!

When big trouble comes, when evil attacks, and when fear takes over, we often run to a safe place. Sometimes an old Datsun pickup may look like a safe place, a trusted friend may look like a safe place, or a small group at church may look like a safe place.

When trouble chases us down, we may also run to places that are not helpful, healthy, or holy. Often these places can be more harmful than the trouble that is chasing us down.

Sometimes a six pack of beer looks like a safe place, sometimes the approval of other people looks like a safe place, and sometimes self-reliance looks like a safe place. Sometimes pornography looks like a safe place, sometimes busyness looks like a safe place, and sometimes a few pills look like a safe place. The best these things can do for us is numb our heart, our mind, our soul, or our body.

The good news is there is another place we can run when trouble is chasing us down. When David ruled as king of Israel, there were times when trouble threatened to destroy him. Sometimes the trouble was the consequence of his own choices. Sometimes the trouble was the consequence of choices made my other people.

No matter the source, when the troubles were most difficult David often ran to the Lord God to find a safe place. In Psalm 37:39 David writes; “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their refuge in the time of trouble.”

David learned that how we respond to the troubles, the threats, and the tragedies we encounter in life makes a big difference. David had also learned how we respond to trouble when it comes depends on what we believe about the character of the Lord God. David knew the Lord God is our refuge in time of trouble; i.e., the Lord God is our safe place!

We need the Lord God to be our refuge. We live in the world where pain is real, where hurt lingers, and where loss leaves us empty. Where is the Datsun pickup when we need it?!?!

We lose good jobs, our relationships blow up, and accidents happen at the worst time. We struggle through the days when the cancer grows, the addiction rages, and the insecurity deepens. Where is that safe place?

I need a safe place so I can put my life on hold. I need a refuge so I can rest for a bit. I need an oasis so I can be replenished. I need a sanctuary so I can experience the love of Jesus. Where is the refuge the Lord God promises in Psalm 37?

In Psalm 37:40 (Contemporary English Version) David invites us to run to the Lord God for our refuge. David writes; “The Lord helps them and save them from the wicked because they run to him.”

When Satan is barking, snarling, growling and ready to tear you apart it is time to run to the heart of Jesus! Run to Jesus as your refuge, your safe place, your strong place.

There are times when we all will need a safe place; a place of refuge! Consider the following prayers.

+Lord God, I need a place to draw near to you, delight in you, worship you, pray with you, and adore you. I need you to be my refuge!

+Lord God, I need a place where you can refresh me, restore me, re-create me, redeem me, re-focus me, revive me, re-direct me. I need you to be my refuge!

+Lord God, I need a place that is a place of surrender and vulnerability and openness in your presence so I can see your beauty, your glory, and your power. I need you to be my refuge!

+Lord God, I need a place where I can stop running so hard and so long after the things of the world that cause me to drift away from you and my family and my friends and my self. I need you to be my refuge!

If you have ever stood between disaster and deliverance, you know the thing for which your soul longs most is a refuge; a place that is a safe and comforting and healing!

If you have ever been at the end of your rope you know the thing for which your soul longs most is a refuge; a place that is forgiveness and second chances and salvation!

If you have ever faced every day filled with fear and trouble and sadness you know the thing for which your soul longs most is a refuge; a place that is strength and courage and hope.

David reminds us to run hard to the Lord God as our place of refuge. Let us run hard to Jesus. Let us rest in Jesus. Let us rejoice in Jesus. Imagine what Jesus might do if you ran to His heart as your refuge today.

Reflect

Describe an unhealthy or unholy place to which you run when trouble is chasing you down. What would have been different if you would have run hard to find your refuge in the Lord God? Describe some ways in which you can run to Jesus rather than run to that unhealthy or unholy place.

Pray

Lord God, I am grateful that when I run to you I find a refuge in you. You are the place I can go for rest and refreshment as well as help and healing. You provide me a shelter from the storms of life and a peace that only you can give. Thank you for being there when life is so hard. Thank you for being my refuge. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Act

Ask a friend to help you to stop running to unhealthy or unholy things when you are struggling. Invite them to hold you accountable to your deeper desire to run to Jesus as your refuge. If you have a friend who is running to unhealthy and unholy things rather than running hard to Jesus as their refuge, set a time to share a cup of coffee as you remind them Jesus is their refuge.