Finding Shelter in the Psalms

by Authentic Manhood

Storms are coming. Find shelter.

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t check the weather app on my phone. Why? Because I want to know what I might face today. I want to be prepared for sunshine or rain, powdery snow or ice on the roads, clear skies, or a tornado. I wish I had an app that would give me a different kind of forecast. I need an app that will give me the forecast for the real storms of my life—the storms in relationships, temptations, trouble at work, and the general chaos of the daily grind. Unfortunately, no such app exists. Instead, we typically put one foot in front of the other and slog through each day as it comes.

But we don’t have to live that way.

We know two things for sure about the storms of life:

  1. Storms are going to happen.
  2. We’re never alone, even when life assaults us with all of its brutality.

It is because of these two constants that we might find the shelter needed for the storms in our life by embarking on a journey through the Psalms—ancient worship songs—to learn where God is and what God is doing in the middle of our storms. At times we may feel like asking, “Where is God when life is hard?” There are important answers to that question, as the Psalms will help us see. But the Psalms offer more than just information about God, they will also help you answer the question, “Where do I go when life gets tough?”

Whether it’s a song of a shepherd declaring God’s presence in the storms of life or a song of encouragement reminding us of God’s love for us, we can learn to live in the middle of the ancient lyrics, these wonderful psalms. We can encounter the truth that God does show up personally in our lives, no matter what storm comes our way. Jesus is our refuge and fortress.

Here's a few devotionals to help you engage with Psalms in a more intentional way:

Philip Nation is the Vice-President/Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. He has served as a pastor, church planter, and education minister in local churches. He frequently travels to speak in churches and for conferences. Philip earned a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has also served as a professor for Union University and Houston Christian University.

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