Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading titled Running to Our Shelter

was written by Dave Brannon. The sixth grade basketball game was well underway. Parents and

grandparents were cheering on their players, while younger brothers

and sisters of the boys on the teams entertained themselves out in the school hallway. Suddenly,

sirens blared and lights flashed in the gym. A fire alarm had been tripped. Soon the siblings

came streaming back into the gym in panic, looking for their parents.

There was no fire. The alarm had accidentally been activated. But as I watched, I was struck by

the way the children, sensing a crisis, unashamedly ran to embrace their parents. What a picture

of confidence in those who could provide

a sense of safety and reassurance in a time of fear. Second Samuel chapter two presents a time

when David experienced great fear. Saul and numerous other enemies pursued him. After God delivered

David to safety, the grateful man

sang an eloquent song of praise about his help. He called God, my rock, my fortress,

and my deliverer. When the cords of the grave and the snares of death hounded him,

David called out to God,

and his cry came to God's ears.

In the end, David proclaimed,

He rescued me.

In times of fear and uncertainty,

we can run to the rock.

As we call on God's name,

he alone provides the refuge and shelter we need.

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