My 2-year-old grandson Miro has been stuck for about 5 pandemic-y months, mostly in his parents’ apartment in Brooklyn, NY. He has forgotten, probably, being able to play on a playground or run in a park with his soccer ball. He has forgotten, probably, being able to play with his friends in daycare, or going to Kick and Play soccer fun with neighborhood buddies. He has been a very good sport about it all. His parents and his aunt and uncle, who live with him, have done their best to help him to feel safe and have fun and keep learning. But it's not easy. The other day, as his parents were away in a Manhattan hospital bringing his baby sister into the world, he felt kind of bad. So James and Emily built a fort for him out of blankets and his little bed. He put all his bears in it. And he played and fell asleep and took his nap in it. He felt much better for having played and slept in his fort. He woke up cheerful.
There are times in David's life when he felt so alone, so under stress, so in danger from enemies and circumstances, that he cried out to God. He told God just how bad he felt. He wandered a hostile terrain, and he saw the rock that is higher than himself, and it reminded him of God, higher up, stronger, lifted above all that surrounds him. He thought of God as a strong tower against the enemy; what a welcome safe place that would be for David. He thought of being safe in the tent that belongs to God, a God who lifts his wings and settles them securely over David, who at last could rest and find the refuge that he longed for High rock, strong tower, safe tent, sheltering wings: all of these remind him of the strength, security and hope David finds in his God.
You also may desperately need these things: high rock, strong tower, safe tent, sheltering wings. I know I do. And we will find them in our God, who is right in the middle of everything, with us. God understands our worries, our losses, our fears. And He is there to cover us so that we can find rest and find our connection with Him again. God cares for us so that we can gather strength from the Rock that is higher than us...and face life with courage again.