6 Truths about God's Refuge for Women

I believe that when we, daughters of the living God, are intimidated, uncared for, taken advantage of, or mistreated, the Lord steps in “extra.” Just as any decent Earthly father advocates for his daughter's physical and emotional well-being, so does God for us. After all, He’s a God of sovereignty, justice, jealousy, and mercy. How could the Lord resist stepping in with thunderous, love-infused provision and protection when seeing his daughter afraid, confused, mistreated, anxiety-ridden, or desperate for help? 

My most incredible, undeniable, jaw-dropping experiences of God’s love have always been felt during times of astonishing aloneness, confusion, and anxiety. He’s rescued and restored me every time. Psalm 68:5 says God is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. Even when our Earthly fathers pass away or fail us, God is our ultimate Father. His guard is never down, and our need always moves His Father’s heart for Him.

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God’s refuge is so much more than a temporal shelter when we’re about to break down. Although the analogies of us hiding under His wings are true and beautiful, God is not a place; he’s a being. He’s not a stoic point on the map of life we periodically run to when we’re half-dead and need a pep talk. 

I believe the Psalmist David uses the symbolism of wings because birds are always moving. God is always with us, guiding our way and protecting us from the storms of life. When spouses leave, friends abandon, finances are a wreck, or the pressures of life drill down on our chests to the point of breathlessness, God is our hiding place. 

Whether we’ve drifted from Him, fallen into patterns of sin, or have felt far from Him for months or years, God has never moved from a position of protection. He’s never stopped hovering over us, waiting for a glance upward like a loving parent helicopter around a wandering toddler. Don’t let the direness of your circumstances confuse you into thinking you have to earn your way back to God’s refuge. He’s right there.

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Every single one of us has access to God’s refuge, but we need to position ourselves under his wing…permanently. We need to cry out to him. We need to stay connected with Him throughout our days, thanking him for being with us and asking for more of His presence. It means taking the socials off our phones, if necessary, to avoid seeking distraction instead of re-filling the Holy Spirit. 

It means laying in our beds at night during that witching hour or two after our kids go to bed, listening to worship, reading the Word, or watching a YouTube Sermon instead of numbing our pain with wine, a new series, or much worse. 

God is willing, strong, and determined enough to remain hovering, but many times, He’s left yearning for a glance upward. Numbing or distracting ourselves from stress and sadness only brings temporary relief, if anything. But when we bring our disappointments, fears, and loneliness to the feet of Jesus in the shadow of God’s wing, we’ll find lasting peace and emotional healing.

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Sometimes, guilt and shame from sin, mistakes, or a dry spiritual life can keep us from or make us hesitant to run to God when things get complicated. But as Lamentations 3:22 reminds us, God’s compassion never fails, and his mercies are new every morning. The enemy would tell us we’ve screwed it up too badly or repeated that same mistake one too many times to ask God for empathy and comfort, but as Exodus 34:6 reminds us, the Lord is always merciful and gracious. It doesn’t matter what you’re running from or recovering from. It doesn’t matter if your problems are self-imposed or if you’re being attacked and persecuted for no reason. You are His, and He is here to help. You are redeemed and chosen, and His heart has nothing but mercy and tenderness towards you.

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For some women surviving long periods of difficult times, past trauma, or abandonment, developing an imbalanced sense of independence is simply a form of self-protection. We may have a hard time trusting men or putting ourselves in a position of dependence on anyone sans ourselves after being hurt. However, needing God’s protection isn’t the same as needing the protection of man. Husbands, boyfriends, friends, and family members may let us down, but God is always faithful. There is a way to go through the fire and not be burned. There is a way to walk through the valley without fear, even when surrounded by evil. But it can only be found in God’s refuge.

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Women are feeling more burnt out and exhausted now more than ever. Many of us are juggling careers, raising families, and caring for loved ones, all while handling the invisible tasks it takes to maintain family connections and relationships, often referred to as “kin keeping.” 

This is where God’s refuge comes into play. God is meant to be a place of rest, safety, peace, and grounding. It may feel nearly impossible to squeeze in alone time with Him daily, but we owe it to ourselves to spend time in His presence to restore our souls. 

Jesus had the monumental task of delivering the gospel to all humanity, but He never appeared frenetic. We never see Him at his wit’s end or gasping for air at the end of the day after overextending himself. Instead, we often see Jesus escaping from the crowds to be alone with God for days and sometimes weeks. Even in life’s most chaotic, stressful seasons, we need the peace and restoration found in God’s refuge that even the best spa day can never deliver.

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