What do you think of when you think of shelter?
How about a simple tent to keep the rain out when you go camping? If you want to go picturesque, a cozy log cabin. A tree canopy in the woods filtering the sun's rays above. You may think of sitting under a pergola in your backyard while someone grills up some burgers and chicken drumsticks.
Would you be thinking of a big military bunker with thick concrete walls and a big gun jutting out?
A couple of months ago, as I was doing my morning prayer time, I thought of my favorite verse, Psalms 28:7. It has been a favorite since childhood and has come to define my life in a way. I've had to trust God when He came through the way I wanted and when He didn't.
I remember back in 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, I found this poster at a Christian bookstore. It had a painting of a couple of firefighters and the Twin Trade Center Towers on a blue background, and of course, a big American flag faded in. There was a poem or something on it, but I don't remember what it said.
I do, however, remember the verse on it. "The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and I am helped" Psalm 28:7. Full stop.
Psalm 28:7 was a verse I recalled in elementary, middle, and high school when I was going through something rough. I believed that I was a child of God and that He was with me through everything I faced. I could position my heart toward faith, and God would see me through.
I had committed it to memory and rarely looked it up in the bible. When I did, I realized that the poster I loved didn't display the whole verse.
Here's the whole thing: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices,
and I praise Him with my song. Psalm 28:7 HCSB
Did you catch that last part? The writer of the Psalm (who was more than likely King David) is already rejoicing in victory before they know the battle's outcome.
If you know anything about David beyond the fact that he took down Goliath with the sling and became one of the greatest warrior kings in Ancient Israel, you'll know he was also a troubled man. And he liked to write songs!
Psalm 28 starts with the author crying out to God for rescue and salvation, affirming God's justice over the wicked. Finally, the author rests in His goodness and sings about it.
God is David's strong tower, the rock of salvation and goodness, as in Psalm 18. It's like someone who sees an enemy far away, runs to a bunker, and hides in it safely—knowing that it has a high-tech artillery piece that can automatically train and fire on anyone who would even think of coming near it.
They're so secure in it that they can sing. Do you have a spot like that? A person like that?
That's faith, that's trust. That's the gospel.
When you say Jesus is Lord. You're saying He is bigger than anything that could come against you. Sin and death are two big things. But so are things like financial problems, sickness, politics, toxic family and friends, media, and culture waves; I could go on and on.
However, you're also saying that even if those things get you before you reach the bunker, it doesn't change the fact that the bunker is impenetrable and capable.
The Lord is your shelter, He is your peace, He is your salvation. David had to run to God over and over again. Even when he messed up and faced consequences, He believed God was God.
And He sang about it all over the Psalms!
When it comes to our own lives, the storms are inevitable. The stress builds, the doubts creep in, and the enemy doesn't take days off.
Where is your bunker?
Is it your bank account, your intellect, your relationships, your reputation, a political party, or an online persona?
Or is it the God who created you and sings over you?
Psalm 28:7 reminds us that this trust is about a heart position more than anything. And that kind of trust—anchored in God's unshakable strength and goodness—will always come, even if it isn't the way you expected.
With God, the bunker isn't just safety. It's peace, presence, and praise.
Maybe today, your step of faith is as simple as whispering the truth:
"The Lord is my strength and my shield."
And maybe tomorrow, you'll find yourself singing it even if your enemy is still advancing on you.
Because when the next wave hits—and it will—you'll need to know where to run.
What do you think most people today turn to for a sense of safety or control—and why do you think that is?
Let me know in the comments or feel free to reply to this email!
Thanks for reading! Be sure to subscribe if you enjoyed this article and help get the word out by sharing!
Also go check out for some great articles about prayer!
Live Free!
Can’t speak for other nations but Americans seem to rely heavily on family. I’m sure God wants us to lean on family for support and sacrifice a lot for our families, but He doesn’t want us to worship our tribes or take refuge in anybody other than Jesus.