https://odb.org/2026/06/18/run-for-shelter
Psalm 91:9–16 (NIV): 9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
As the rain began to come in torrents, we splashed through muddy puddles and rushed into a nearby school gym. Thoroughly soaked, we huddled with strangers for the next half hour, still hoping the storm would end. When we ventured back out, we saw that the band was packed up and ready to leave.
When the storms of life come, where can we run? Sorrow, worry, illness, and confusion can make us fearful and in need of refuge. We need a strong shelter that’ll protect us. Psalm 91 reminds us that God has promised to rescue us and to be with us in trouble. “Because he loves me . . . I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name” (v. 14). When we need help, we can call on His name and He “will answer” us (v. 15). (Cindy Hess Kasper, Our Daily Bread 18th June 2026)
When it comes to running to God for shelter in times of trouble or we need the LORD as our refuge because of the storms of life coming our way, it is important to note that there are conditions as we can see in Psalm 91. Because salvation is by the grace of God and not through our efforts in any way, we sometimes assume that everything else concerning God may be proceeded on that basis. Christ died for our sins while we were yet sinners. He didn’t die for only those who were living righteous lives. Yet in order to live in the glorious fellowship with Christ, we need to live a righteous life befitting His name. We are not required to be righteous to be saved but righteousness is key to living in the centre of God’s will where His abundant grace and mercy flows after we are saved. That is why salvation or faith without works is dead. We are called to do good works once we are saved although good works is not conditional to our salvation.
Even Psalm 91:14-16 emphasises this fundamental principle:
Psalm 91:14-16 14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
God will rescue us and answer our call and be with us when we are in trouble because we love Him, because we acknowledged His name. Not totally conditional as He may still intervene regardless of the state of our relationship with Him, yet somewhat conditional. In other words, we cannot expect God to intervene if we live godless and unrighteous lives, if we are obstinate and do not treat Jesus as King. If we only play lip service to our confession that Jesus Christ is our Lord, it will be difficult for God the Father to be our refuge and shelter. We cannot be living recklessly and wickedly and yet expect God’s protection and providence and provision.
The message this morning is simply return to God today. Repent from our sins and our wayward ways today. Seek His forgiveness. He will forgive us for He is a just and compassionate God. Then we may live under the shadow of His wings and He will truly be our shelter and refuge in time of trouble and when storms of life come crashing into our lives! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 