Seeking the Wrong Refuge

My husband stepped down into the garage and spotted something black. A strange object had become wedged between the wall and the recycle bin.

At first he thought it was a rock. When he looked closer, he discovered it was a box turtle.

How did this happen?

How did a box turtle wind up in our garage? I was mystified until I remembered we had recently replaced our garage door.

Our garage was open for several days. Had the turtle crawled in during that time?

A desire for safety drew the creature.

Our garage must have looked like the perfect place to get away from predators. It had protection from wind and rainstorms.

The narrow space behind the recycle bin gave the creature a snug and secure place to rest.

Also, the temperature was comfortable, not too hot or too cold. No wonder the turtle chose this particular spot!

A refuge isn’t always what it seems.

Unfortunately, what looked like an ideal spot for the turtle was actually a snare. After workmen installed our new garage door, the poor turtle couldn’t get out.

Our garage had become its prison. The creature was no longer free to get out and roam. That door barred it from getting food and water.

We don’t know how long the turtle hid in our garage. Perhaps it was there for several days. If my husband hadn’t found it in time, our safe garage would have become its death trap.

Fortunately, my husband gently lifted the turtle and set it down in the garden. He placed it where it could get plenty of food and water.

We often seek the wrong refuge .

Like the turtle, we humans tend to gravitate to what looks safe but isn’t. When we need help, we often search out ineffectual solutions.

For example, during the pandemic, sales of alcohol and marijuana soared. Thousands used these two substances to cope with fear, depression, or boredom.

What happened when people sought sanctuary in these?

People turned to strong drink to temporarily take away the emotional pain they were experiencing. Their troubles faded for a short while, but alcohol offered no real solutions. Later on, they had a hangover in addition to their problems.

The same thing happened with drugs. Users believed drugs’ false promises to make their lives better, but drugs disappointed them.

Other things failed to help, too.

Some people choose to escape reality by reading books or watching films. Others focused on their family or their hobbies. Some immersed themselves in social causes or turned to meditation.

During a pandemic, these all seemed like promising answers, but they didn’t offer any true solutions. Without that, we’ll always find ourselves at a dead end.

Where can we go for help?

The Bible points us to the answer in Psalms 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” In that same psalm in verses 10 and 11, God says, “Be still, and know I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” (KJV)

We can follow the psalmist’s example.

The psalmist knew where to go in times of trouble. Our God is still in control, and He is ready to help those who call upon Him. He is not surprised by a pandemic, or social unrest, unemployment, or any other problem we face. We can always take refuge under the shadow of His almighty wings.