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

After my second year of seminary, Lori and I spent the summer working at a church just outside of Aberdeen, Scotland. Yes, I know, tough assignment. We spent our weekly day off driving around the countryside in a Mini Cooper (this was before Mini’s were cool). Many of those trips included checking out a castle or two. 

Castles are strategically positioned on high ground. The impressive structures are built right by a cliff, making any attack from that side virtually impossible. Surrounding the castles were walls—six, eight, sometimes ten feet thick. In its day, a well-built, well-positioned castle was a secure fortress. Today’s proverb reminds us that God is our strong confidence. We can always trust him. 

One thing about those castles we visited was they were all uninhabited. A rival army breached the walls at some point and captured all those who lived inside. That’s what happens when we put our confidence in temporal things. But when our strong confidence is in God, our children also see that and trust in him. God will be a spiritual shelter and protection for them, just as he has been for us. 

Father, amid our pain, brokenness, job loss, 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.