After my second year of seminary, Lori and I spent a summer in northern Scotland, interning at a church just outside of Aberdeen. We spent our weekly day off driving around the countryside in a little Mini (this was before Minis were cool). Many of those trips included checking out a castle or two.

Castles are strategically positioned on high ground. Many are built on top of a cliff or built into a cliff. This crucial location makes attacks virtually impossible. Surrounding the castles were walls—some more than ten feet thick. In its day, a well-built, well-positioned castle was a secure fortress. For the believer, our fortress is God.

Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

God is our fortress, our strong confidence. Those who fear him—who both embrace him as Father and dread his disdain for sin—are protected by his love, goodness, and strength. As David wrote, “He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge….” (Psalm144:2). Because God was his fortress, David said with certainty, “I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2 NIV). All true believers can confidently make that same claim! And it gets even better. When the Lord is truly our fortress, we can impart to our children the same refuge.

Father, during our pain, brokenness, job losses, broken hearts, illnesses, and disappointments, be to us a secure fortress. May we always find in you a safe and secure refuge. May we point our children to that stronghold as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.