The prophet Joel presents us with a God who “roars” and “raises his voice,” a God who makes “the heavens and the earth quake” (Joel 4:16). The question is; who is God roaring at? He is roaring at our spiritual enemies the devil, the sin and the world: our own fallen desires and temptations. God is much more powerful than all of them. Just a simple roar and they vanish, leaving us safe in his care. The passage tells us that at the same time that he roars at our enemies, God makes himself a refuge for us. So rather than focusing on the terrifying roar let us focus on the peaceful refuge. He is our hiding place, our fortress. Isn’t it a comfort to know that we have such an ally as the Lord of Hosts? Try to recall some of the times the Lord has come through for us in a powerful way. Let these examples become a foundation for our thinking today: I know that I can trust in the Lord! I believe that his ‘channels’ are flowing through me right now life, power, peace, and refreshment (Joel 4:18)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank you for your deep, abiding and merciful love. Amen.