In You, Lord, I have taken refuge. Let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me. Turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and fortress. Psalm 71:1-3
These verses from Psalm 71 provide us with the best perspective on change. Instead of focusing on the source and potential duration of the changes coming our way, these verses turn our vision in God’s direction. This is because he never changes. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
We’ve all had the unknown invade our lives. It can leave us spinning as if we may be going off course. Nothing is normal. Everything is different. Fear can hinder our ability to function. Anxiety and worry can distort our perspective until we reach a point where we don’t even know what is real anymore.
The thing we used as a gauge to help us measure “real” has been removed through the changes and we’re left with a world we no longer recognize. Where do we even start to find a new source of security?
In Psalm 71, the Lord is offered as this new source. He is a rock, a refuge, and a fortress. These verses at the beginning of Psalm 71 don’t make the promise that change will never happen. Anxiety producing events will enter our lives. “Normal” will get disrupted. What is real may appear hidden from us for a time.
But these verses do tell us that God is the place to go for safety when change does take place. He is the one who holds each one of us in his care. He is always there. God is the unchanging, all-knowing heavenly Father who keeps his focus on us even as we turn our eyes upon Him.
