Blog
A Refuge, A Help
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 by Maureen Lewicki
Teaching is stressful. On a particularly difficult day I left a tense committee meeting and walked down a hallway I didn’t usually use. I walked quickly with clenched fists, and my eyes looking down at my feet. When I glanced up, I saw a sign that riveted me to the spot.
The sign had two icons, one of a flame and one of a person in a wheelchair. The words below it read “Area of Refuge.”
What an extraordinary word, I thought. Refuge. It perfectly described the area, a staircase with a wheelchair accessible lift, to safely deliver a person who could not navigate stairs to the first floor, and close to an exit.
Refuge, safety, protection.
My heart reminded me of Ps 46.1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
I took a deep breath, grateful for this reminder that God is my refuge, always accessible, safe, and protecting.
The bell rang to mark the end of a period, but even as the students poured out of classrooms and flooded the hallway, I could feel my heart slowing down, my breathing regulating, and even my fisted hands relaxing. I thanked God for being my refuge, thanked Him for being accessible, and made my way through the sea of students to my next meeting, confident that My Refuge was with me and watchful.
I still had more difficult meetings ahead of me. God didn’t swoop me out of them, but the image of the sign stayed uppermost in my mind, reminding me that God, my refuge, and strength was available to me even in the meetings.
Thank You, Jesus, for being available to us in our hour of need, Thank You, for being our refuge, our help, our strong tower.
Comments
Elizabeth S. From New York At 4/18/2026 9:05:38 PM
This is beautifully written! Thank you for sharing!Reply by: Author Maureen Lewicki
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