This past Father's Day, we had the pleasure of spending time with my dad for a few days on a river. The breeze while we were on the boat kept us cool but as soon as we hit the beach, the heat was a bit too much to bear. We decided to build a shelter to escape the direct sunlight. We found some bamboo, a tarp, and some rope, so it should have been a home run of a structure if you ask me. I wish I had a picture of what it looked like because it was the saddest looking sunshade I've ever seen. The top sagged too low for anyone to stand under it. The sticks keeping it upright wobbled and bowed to the side, and the dog didn't even deem it worthy to lie down in. The funny thing is I consider my dad one of the world's best builders, but this particular skill seemed to evade us both.

As I thought about this illustration on my drive home, I realized how often I attempt to build shoddy fortresses in my day-to-day. I am quick to grab materials that don't hold up to life's storms or even provide adequate shade. It stands up for a hot second, but any gust of wind inevitably knocks it down. Things like approval from others, nice clothes, attaining beautiful skin, medicine, new cars, traveling to exciting locations, and the list goes on... They aren't necessarily bad things, but they're not a place to rest my soul. They were never supposed to be things with which to find shelter.

I want to be covered by the One who holds the world in His hand, not my own makeshift protection.

God says over and over again that He is a rock that will keep us safe. His immovable presence is all we need to keep us sheltered. So when life brings things like 2020 (enough said), our soul knows where to sit.

‍

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
   my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
   he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5-6

‍
And what's more beautiful is God is everywhere. We don't need to be in a church or holed up in our house, afraid that He will stop providing shelter because He never does. He is an omnipresent rock that covers us even when we leave our comfort zone. He is a hiding place where we can find rest no matter where we are in the world. That is one rock you will never want to abandon.

• What are some ways you are currently relying on your temporary shelter rather than sitting inside the One who is a permanent refuge?
• Think of one way you can step out this week, as you remember that you never leave His protection.
• Start and end your day praying Psalm 62:5-8.