Hiding Place and Shield
07/19/2025
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”
— Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
When the world becomes overwhelming and chaos threatens to steal our peace, where do we run? Today’s verse gives us a profound answer in just a few words: “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”
David, the likely author of this passage, knew what it meant to be hunted, betrayed, and surrounded by enemies. But in the middle of the longest chapter in the Bible, there sits a passage filled with passion for God’s Word. In it we find this reminder: when the battle rages, we don’t need to run away; we need to run into God. He is both our refuge, (our safe hiding place), and our shield (our defender in battle). This double image tells us something beautiful about the Lord: He both shelters us and empowers us to stand.
Imagine a young child during a thunderstorm. Lightning flashes, thunder shakes the house, and the only place that child wants to be is under the covers, in the arms of a loving parent. The storm is still outside, but in the parent’s embrace, the fear fades. That’s what David is saying here, God is our hiding place, the embrace we can run to when life gets loud and scary.
But He’s not only a refuge, He’s also our shield. That means we don’t just hide from life’s battles, we are protected through them. His Word is our sword and our strategy. His promises are not abstract; they are living, breathing truths that anchor us in hope.
David didn’t say, “I put my hope in my circumstances,” or “I put my hope in what I can see.” He said, “I put my hope in your word.” When the storms rage and enemies surround, the Word of God is not just ink on a page, it becomes a place to hide and a promise to fight with.
Here are some things to help you on your journey.
Memorize Psalm 119:114 and speak it out loud when fear or anxiety creeps in.
Identify your refuge substitutes. Are you running to social media, food, entertainment, or isolation instead of God? Trade them in.
Pray through Scripture daily. Use God’s Word as both a shield and source of hope in your prayers.
My challenge for you is this:
When the enemy whispers lies today, about your worth, your future, or your situation, speak this verse aloud. Make it your anthem. Say, “God is my refuge. God is my shield. My hope is not in what I feel. My hope is in His Word.”
Lord, You are my hiding place when I am afraid and my shield when I’m under attack. Thank You for Your Word, which gives me strength, hope, and perspective. Help me run to You first, not last. Guard my heart from fear and teach me to trust in Your promises more than my problems. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”
— Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
When the world becomes overwhelming and chaos threatens to steal our peace, where do we run? Today’s verse gives us a profound answer in just a few words: “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”
David, the likely author of this passage, knew what it meant to be hunted, betrayed, and surrounded by enemies. But in the middle of the longest chapter in the Bible, there sits a passage filled with passion for God’s Word. In it we find this reminder: when the battle rages, we don’t need to run away; we need to run into God. He is both our refuge, (our safe hiding place), and our shield (our defender in battle). This double image tells us something beautiful about the Lord: He both shelters us and empowers us to stand.
Imagine a young child during a thunderstorm. Lightning flashes, thunder shakes the house, and the only place that child wants to be is under the covers, in the arms of a loving parent. The storm is still outside, but in the parent’s embrace, the fear fades. That’s what David is saying here, God is our hiding place, the embrace we can run to when life gets loud and scary.
But He’s not only a refuge, He’s also our shield. That means we don’t just hide from life’s battles, we are protected through them. His Word is our sword and our strategy. His promises are not abstract; they are living, breathing truths that anchor us in hope.
David didn’t say, “I put my hope in my circumstances,” or “I put my hope in what I can see.” He said, “I put my hope in your word.” When the storms rage and enemies surround, the Word of God is not just ink on a page, it becomes a place to hide and a promise to fight with.
Here are some things to help you on your journey.
Memorize Psalm 119:114 and speak it out loud when fear or anxiety creeps in.
Identify your refuge substitutes. Are you running to social media, food, entertainment, or isolation instead of God? Trade them in.
Pray through Scripture daily. Use God’s Word as both a shield and source of hope in your prayers.
My challenge for you is this:
When the enemy whispers lies today, about your worth, your future, or your situation, speak this verse aloud. Make it your anthem. Say, “God is my refuge. God is my shield. My hope is not in what I feel. My hope is in His Word.”
Lord, You are my hiding place when I am afraid and my shield when I’m under attack. Thank You for Your Word, which gives me strength, hope, and perspective. Help me run to You first, not last. Guard my heart from fear and teach me to trust in Your promises more than my problems. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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