Take refuge. Or, more specifically, take refuge in God.

I’m obsessed with lighthouses. Look at my logo and the image at transformational-encouragement.teachable.com and you’ll see what I mean. What does a lighthouse do to help you take refuge?

I like the imagery. And I also like the metaphor.

Back in my full-time days in vocational youth ministry, I was serving at St. Andrew Baptist Church in Panama City, Florida. That was a great ministry for me, and I had an amazing youth group. I keep up with several of them to this day.

One highlight of our year was our senior trip. I would take our graduating seniors and we’d do a “bareboat charter” out of Miami to the Bahamas.

Sailing, sailing …

A bareboat charter means that the charter company provides the boat, the provisions, and a captain. For instance, we learned how to read and chart a compass course (GPS wasn’t around back then), set sails, cast off and moor, and do all those sailor-y things. I loved the role reversals. I got a kick out of watching the guys prepare meals in the galley, and the girls hauling up anchors and swabbing the deck. Just like real sailors.

We had sails, but typically we’d motor from island to island at night and sail during the day when we weren’t in a port. This was insanely fun and challenging.

One night we were motoring along and a squall blew up. Our regimen was to have three people awake and on deck all evening – one person to steer, one person to sit with them and keep them awake and engaged, and one person at the bow to look for other boats.

When the weather got bad, though, we were all hands on deck. That boat pitched and rolled like a carnival ride. Scary, at least for we novice seamen.

Skipper to the rescue – sort of.

Our captain, a professional, was below deck sound asleep during all this. I was panicky, and went to wake him.

He just shrugged me off with a grin. “We’re fine,” he said. “This isn’t bad. Just keep your eyes on the lights and you won’t have any problem.”

I’d like to say that the wind and waves grew calm at his words, but, since he wasn’t Jesus, that didn’t happen.

What did happen was that we took his advice. During the night we were never really out of sight of other boats. You saw points of light scattered all over. More importantly, though, were the lit buoys we used to help navigate, and even in one case a stationary lighthouse. They gave guidance.

You can probably see where I’m headed with this. Stay with me here.

In earlier seafaring days, a ship’s captain would fix his eyes on a lighthouse and ignore the wind and waves. It guided him, his vessel, and his crew.

Ancient script says, “You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.”*

This is all about how we can take refuge. A lighthouse points to safe harbor.

I’ll move from metaphor to practicality.

• Even during times of extreme difficulty you can have God’s peace if you keep your thoughts focused on Him.
• The more you think about your problems, the bigger they seem. But the more you think about God, the more trustworthy and powerful He is.
• Jesus is the lighthouse and refuge as He guides you to shore.

The obvious question: What’s your mind fixed on?

You become what you think about.

Not to belabor the obvious, but God is that safe refuge. It may be that life’s storms might seem overwhelming and there is no refuge, but there is supernatural peace and shelter available to you.

• Are you holding onto bitter emotions?
• Are your thoughts and words mostly negative?
• Can you identify where you struggle?
• How much of your grief did you bring on yourself?

Jesus doesn’t condemn.

Think about this like you’ve never heard it before. God guides. He is your refuge and strength. He is steadfast in times of suffering and distress. What’s amazing is that He wants to give peace and hope in the midst of unexpected circumstances.

It all comes back to remembering the truth of who God is.

Isaiah 26:3* bears revisiting. He’s calling for a steadfast mind.

Steadfast is a great loaded word. It means to stay in a state or position. In our context it means that we are to fix ourselves on His promises.

However – aren’t we prone to focus on our problems?

You bet we are. What an awful commentary on how we are scripted.  So how do we “stay” on the Lord, even when we’re troubled?

• Trusting in God is connected to thinking about God. How are your thoughts connected to your level of trust?
• Your level of peace is connected to who or what you trust.
• If your trust is in money, possessions, people, success – peace will escape you.
• Keeping your mind centered on God and who He is during times of suffering is the secret to constant peace.

Life happens.

A recent diagnosis, financial hardship, or challenging relationship can put us in a funk, and we tend to think we’re justified for being in that funk. Well, you may not see any way out of your current situation, but God can see the beginning and the end.

So. What is God showing you? How can you grow? How can you move into a place of confidence?

Ancient script says, “You are my refuge and my shield;
    I have put my hope in your word.” That’s a good word – that’s Psalm 119:114.

And a great promise. If you’re suffering now, God wants to be your shield. He wants to be your refuge. He wants to provide comfort.

Here is where you can drive a stake: Take refuge in God. He is a safe harbor. God is the lighthouse. Claim that.