I am a refugee…because God is my refuge

What does it mean to be a refugee? It means to flee from harm, hardship; flee from maybe war; natural disaster; imminent destruction. In such circumstances there is no time to think of what are the best and viable options. In fact in a situation like this, there are just simply no good options.

During these painfully frequent chaotic and ravaging occurrences, you forget all your hard work. You forget your new sofa; you forget your dinning table and chairs. Yes, you forget what your house looks like: what color, how many bedrooms, how much you spent fitting a new kitchen. You don’t care. You don’t care what your boss at work said yesterday; you don’t even care if you have a job or not! The present danger is just overwhelming to care to a pending situation. You have stopped thinking of that pending promotion you had dreamed of up till this point. All you can think of is your child’s safety; or your husband making it. You want to hold your family that much closer.

Psalm 46:1 says that God is our refuge and strength. He is a very help in time of trouble. One day as I meditated on this scripture, I saw that I was taking refuge in Him, hiding from every trouble that might come my way. Life has its troubles, and brings them to us everyday: some sickness or disease; children behaving badly; spouse behaving badly; friends behaving badly; even family members not getting along. Yes, life can be hard. And so we choose to run to God. We choose to hide in Him. And so I am a refugee taking refuge in God. I bet you often take refuge in God too!

Many people are refugees today; natural refugees. They leave their homeland because of trouble, and look for a place where they can find that elusive peace and deprived safety. It seems to me that what they seek, though I am not in a war torn land, I seek also. Yes, our homes are intact, jobs intact, family seemingly out of danger; yet our humanity desires certain safety; certain peace etc. And so what they seek, we seek too.

And if I can confess to this seeking, and will do anything to have it; then I must bring myself to understand these natural disaster and war-beaten refugees. If I am so desperate to have safety, joy, peace, such that I say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and by such admittance, admit that I am a refugee, then may I see myself in these natural disaster and war-torn refugees – who also are looking for peace, safety and joy; which by natural instinct – every human being deserves to possess. I do not want to get into discursive stalemates. All I know is when I see suffering, I have compassion. When I see the hungry, I desire to give them some dollar bills if I have some. I do not judge if they will go and buy cigarettes or alcohol with the money. I just have compassion. And when I see the refugees, I just have compassion. I want to share a coat, some food, some money. I do not want to send them away, just like Jesus did not send the 5000 away.

To finish, I am reminded of Emma Lazarus’ quote regarding the Statue of Liberty which she dubbed ‘Mother of Exiles’ saying:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

This is what a land of liberty can do. Scripture says where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. And when there is liberty, we are able to beacon those without and invite them to partake; like asking them to come and partake of a meal of freedom so that their empty bellies will be full once again. I pray so!

Linda Faith

Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She has authored eight books. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk. She was a software developer before she started writing.