“I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm’” (Psalm 55:6-8).
O Father, how our souls long for peace and tranquility! Which of us, has not longed, like the psalmist, to fly away to a place of rest! We long for a place of shelter, far away from the churning and the tossing.
But even when we think the answer is to "get away from it all", when we long to escape and fly away to the desert, we cannot outrun life's troubles or life's pain. But even in the desert, or in the darkest valley You stay by our side. You are always with us:
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10).
Lord of all, what comfort, what reassurance we find in Your faithfulness, Your constancy, Your watchfulness, and Your care! You have promised never to leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).
Oh God, when we are overwhelmed by trouble and heartache, confusion and anxiety, when we long for the wings of a dove, open our eyes to see Your eagles' wings of grace. Drive away the darkness from weary, troubled souls. Expose the lies of abandonment and hopelessness and "pour out Your love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Give us the "hope [that] does not put us to shame" (Romans 5:5).
Help us to know that Your wings of safety cover us wherever we are. That You are our place of shelter, our refuge from the tempest and storm. We rest on the promises and encouragement from Your word, "Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand" (Psalm 73:23).
Keep us from shallow substitutes and cheap counterfeits that rob us of peace and rest. Stir in our hearts a longing to fly only to Your peaceful wings of refuge.
Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high. Hide me, O my Savior, hide, Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide; Oh, receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, ah! leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me. All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer? Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall— Lo! on Thee I cast my care. Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive, Hoping against hope I stand, Dying, and behold, I live.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, More than all in Thee I find; Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind. Just and holy is Thy Name, Source of all true righteousness; Thou art evermore the same, Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin; Let the healing streams abound; Make and keep me pure within. Thou of life the fountain art, Freely let me take of Thee; Spring Thou up within my heart; Rise to all eternity.
~ Charles Wesley ~ pub 1740
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