Psalm 142 – I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. ² I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him my trouble. ³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knew my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. ⁴ I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. ⁵ I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. ⁶ Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. ⁷ Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

David sat alone in a dark cave as he hid from Saul.  While David was the anointed King of Israel, circumstances grounded in Saul’s hatred did not allow him to claim this title.  Instead, he lived as a fugitive, running for his life as Saul hunted him to kill him.

To Whom did he turn at this difficult and dangerous time in his life?  David sought God.  He wasn’t silent about his complaints, the danger, or his aloneness.  He laid it all out in God’s lap.  As he turned his focus from his circumstances to the God of his circumstances, he recognized God as his refuge and portion.  He saw his dependence on God, and he ended his prayer with confidence in God’s provision and the future God had promised.

The lesson for me?  When I am overwhelmed with the happenings and horrors of this life, my refuge is in the God Who loves me.  He is willing to hear my cry, and He is not afraid of my difficulties.  I can trust Him, and He will deal bountifully with me.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.(ESV)

Modified from an earlier post.