The Only Safe Place to Go With Your Weakness

The One and Only Safe Place to Go with Your Weakness

Posted on by Michele Morin

Sunday Scripture

It’s a rough school day that ends with a show down in science class. Corporal punishment has been banished from the classroom, but sometimes it’s the teacher who takes a beating. “Whatever made me think I could do this job?” I wondered, collapsing into weakness on the drive home. My best efforts with four troubled (and troublesome!) students had felt like 100% failure.

Help in Weakness

When I’m feeling defeated, I take refuge in the Help who never fails to show up :

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

Weakness and discouragement are not my favorite emotions, but I am learning that if my life were always bathed in a rosy glow, if I never experienced failure or disappointment, I would never experience God as refuge. Safe inside the illusion of my proficiency, my confidence, and my well-laid plans, I imagine a brand of security that shouts, “My kingdom come; my will be done.”

We only realize our need of a refuge when life throws us something that sends us looking for shelter or protection. Of course, then it becomes apparent that we need God, our refuge and strength, all the time!

Even on the worst of days–
Especially on the worst of days,
“God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Holding you in the light,

We only realize our need of a refuge when life throws us something that sends us looking for shelter or protection. Of course, then it becomes apparent that we need God, our refuge and strength, all the time!

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

56 thoughts on “The One and Only Safe Place to Go with Your Weakness”

  1. “We only realize our need of a refuge when life throws us something that sends us looking for shelter or protection.” So very true! And then in the best of days … we forget. May we remember our great need for Him each and every day.

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  5. So true. I have days at my paid job that make me think “what am I doing here?” And then I go home and look around at all that needs done and want to throw up my hands in despair. Thankful that it is those times that He carries me and gives me hope.

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  7. Michele,
    Oh how I’ve lived in the false security of “My will be done; my kingdom come.” Just about the time I get to feeling too confident, God reminds me HE is the one in control and apart from Him I can do nothing. Will check out Joyful Living!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

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  8. Saturday in the kitchen, I felt weak and discouraged – just broken-hearted – and I reminded myself to praise, to trust, to find my refuge in Him – my rock, my fortress, my deliverer! Thank you for the reminder! Shalom, Michele! ~ Maryleigh

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  9. Oh I had so many days like that when I was teaching. We live in a fairly poor rural town and had so many students with REAL problems that I often felt unable to help. And yet while I felt for them I still had a large number of other students in my class that needed to learn despite a few troubled youth acting up.

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  10. Teaching experiences like that are so hard and make us wonder if we can keep on. But Psalm 46–one of my favorites–helps us when life is hard and we’re struggling. Thank you for your insights, Michele!

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  11. God bless you, Michele, and thank you for serving as a substitute teacher. You undoubtedly give 100% of your effort and expertise when you teach. The enemy would have you believe nothing good came from that day’s discouraging endeavors, but the opposite is true: “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). Those students are blessed to have you!

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  14. May we remember that he is our refuge even when the waters seem calm. I like that he is VERY present help. He’s not just “there” but not engaged – he is VERY present and intimately involved with us as our refuge.

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  15. ‘We only realize our need of a refuge when life throws us something that sends us looking for shelter or protection’ is a beautiful statement and has really made me think about what my refuge is.

    Katrina x
    #MischiefandMemories

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  16. As a one-time classroom teacher, I can attest to those days when I left my classroom feeling beaten up and discouraged. God revealed Himself as a refuge to me then, and He still does as we parent our teens to manhood (and man, have I needed His safe-place presence lately!).

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  17. “If I never experienced failure or disappointment, I would never experience God as refuge.” Now that is a good attitude to have. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this truth, Michele, even though it’s a hard one.

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  21. Knowing that God is still present in the storms hasn’t always been easy for me but I have tried to hold on to it. I often remind myself that he is more than big enough to take on my doubts, my questions and my anger on those hardest days. #MischiefandMemories

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  22. I can relate, Michele, in so many ways. I love this quote…”Even on the worst of days–Especially on the worst of days,“God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

    Your book suggestions look great! The Well-Watered Woman appeals to me.

    Your neighbor at Dare to Hear,
    Tammy

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  23. Michele, you have put this so well! We do need to experience those emotions to experience God as our refuge. I have always loved the words “Our very present help in trouble”. Thank you so much for sharing and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party Community.

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  24. Those aren’t my favourite emotions either Michele. But knowing that refuge (in whatever shape or form it comes) is waiting when things don’t go as planned is comfort and strength. Thank you for joining us for #mischiefandmemories

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  25. I think it is far easier to seek God when we are in need rather than remembering to give thanks when things are positive. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories

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  27. Thank you Michele, Our God reigns – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
    We will feature this good news on the next Blogger’s Pit Stop.
    Kathleen

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