My Strength, My Fortress, My Refuge

"O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress" Psalm 18:2

He provides our protection, covering and strength. When we make the LORD our refuge, the Most High our shelter, no evil will conquer us. His angels will protect us. (Psalm 91) This does not mean that the storms of life will not come. They will. However, He is nothing less than trustworthy and when He is my shelter and trouble in the day of distress I am safe in His arms.

David knew great distress and he wrote of God's deliverance in Psalm 18:1-6, 16,17...

"I love you LORD, my strength. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears...He reached down from on high and took me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me"

Over the past year I would occasionally notice my husband walking over to our daughters and wanting to be sure they were ok, extending his hand to offer what he could, calling them daily, always telling them he loved them. Always available to them. This was the pattern of his life. Often no words needed to be exchanged but they felt assured of the unconditional love that he had for them. Like our Good Good Father who pursues us with delight, always there, reaching down.

Treatments were scheduled to now begin in early October. Randy planned to first get away with me for a couple nights. We arrived at the Outer Banks with a mixture of emotions as this was our vacation destination each year in September...with family, with friends, and often just ourselves. Amazing memories filled our hearts...our daughter's wedding, the celebration of anniversaries, and our tradition of watching Uof M's opening game of football season there...grandchildren playing on the beach...blessed times. I now held back the tears as we checked into our room...Randy wanted this time together once again before the long road of treatments that were ahead as he always lived in the day. As he opened the blinds there was a glorious rainbow over the ocean and he reminded me of God's promises, and how God was with us regardless...His grace meeting us once again, so timely, specific and personal.

The next morning, walking on the beach, we quickly noticed beautiful sandcastles shaped together and surrounded with a large fortress-like structure, pieces of driftwood surrounding it . As I looked at it, the LORD reminded me again of His active presence in our lives and of His unfailing attributes that remain the same...of His presence surrounding us always. The Great I AM, our strength, our mighty fortress, our refuge.

The Lord had been speaking, preparing me, filling me, assuring me, equipping me for what would happen next. Our world was interrupted with chaos and confusion as Randy fell and paramedics rushed to his side...many voices asking questions and determining what was best for him. He only looked up asking how I was. Without warning the paramedics prepared a gurney for him as I stood there watching...as voices became a big blur...with my heart pounding inside..and fear trying to raise it's paralyzing voice.....I quickly dropped to my knees, bowing to the Sovereign One in total control, crying out in distress to the LORD...His peace covered us both, His arms holding us tightly.

Family and friends were praying many miles away and the Holy Spirit showed up in a mighty way even though they could not. I kept my mind on the LORD's promises, on all who were praying, and on the voice of faith spoken through my husband who stayed strong despite all he was facing. He looked at me, as he often did when my heart was overwhelmed, assuring me that , "our God will never leave us nor forsake us".

I had managed to make it to the hospital with God's strength and with His fortress around me. Oh how when the enemy comes in like a flood the LORD takes up our defense and raises up a standard against him! (Isaiah 59:19). Like the sand castles seen on the beach that morning with it's fortified structures around them to prevent enemies from coming in, stopping intruders from attacking, how this is our God. I prayed, "Lord, You remain the same, You are our peace despite all else. Keep us LORD".

In emergency and now stable, with tests to be done, with a grim looks on the doctor's face and in a hospital foreign to us, although alone, we felt the presence of the LORD and He was enough. Although visiting the beach many times before, we felt like we were in a foreign land, wanting to return home. Despite this feeling we heard His voice saying...."I AM with you. I AM holding you. I AM keeping you. I AM your peace"..Thank You Jesus.

I am forever grateful for a husband whose unwavering faith remained the same, for his covering over me. For the good good father he was to our daughters, loving them unconditionally. I am eternally thankful to our Good Good Father whose love and grace remains the same and carried us that night. For the saints who prayed and carried us in their hearts. For God giving us glimpses of His glory through the rainbows and sandcastles He sent...reminding us of His presence, His promises, and of His unchanging attributes that continue this day. He is nothing less than trustworthy.

My prayer for each of you reading this blog today.....

"Heavenly Father, all honor and praise is given to You. You are a Good Good Father who knows the needs of Your children and You never leave us nor forsake us, Thank You. I pray that You will bless each person reading this today, that they too might know You as their Great I AM, the One who remains the same, the One who is unchanging and who cannot fail through all of life's circumstances, and especially in whatever they find themselves in this very day. In Jesus precious name. Amen"

Michelle A. Guerra