You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 NIV

There's a lot that we can put our whole thing. We can put our hope in our jobs. We can put our hope inside of friends and family. We can depend on people to come through for us. However, when we put our hope in His word, we become rooted and an undeniable and profilic resource.

We lean into the vastness of His word and the power it has to transform our hearts and mind. When life gets hard and it seems like no one can help… this may be the perfect opportunity being delivered by way of the Holy Spirit.

To teach. To comfort. To empower.

God has sent us His word and the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and minds. He sent His words so that we may have something to stand on when life gets rough. When chaos, unplanned circumstances, and the inevitable pitfalls of life arise - the word is right there at our fingertips.

Turning to the word of the Lord becomes our refuge. It becomes our safe place. Leaning into the word becomes our source of power.

This is a truth you only discover once you step out in faith and lean into His word. You can't skip the process. You can't avoid the issues of life. These things have been allowed, that the testing of your faith may come forth. Like a good father, God grants us the ability to expand our capacity through the trials of life.

There is nothing too hard for God. He can change everything suddenly. But just because he came, doesn't mean it'll be beneficial for him to do so. How can your faith ever grow if you are never challenged to lean into it? How can your faith be proven if it is never tested? How do you know you are a believer if you've never faced an opportunity to believe?

God is indeed your refuge. He is your shield and buckler. Here is a quick breakdown of what “shield and buckler” mean:

“In a biblical context, "shield and buckler" are metaphors for God's complete and encompassing protection. A shield is a larger, defensive piece of armor used to deflect arrows and spears, while a buckler is a smaller, round shield, often made of metal, used for close-quarters combat to parry blows. Together, they represent both the broad and focused protection God provides, especially when trusting in His truth and faithfulness.”

When we trust in God’s word and lean not to our own understanding, we wrap ourselves in the divine protection of God. Now is the best time to stop and breathe. To wrap yourself in the word of God and the peace of His Spirit.

Release the fear of not having control and the uncertainty of what's going to happen. Release any worry or overthinking about future plans and opportunities. Those things will come and when they do God will be there with you. The same way He is with you now.