one or two suitcases, they ate seeking refuge from the horrors that continue to haunt them in their dreams each night.

Just back from a two-week assignment in Albania, my mind is still filled with stories of families who seen their homes burned, who have lost husbands and fathers, or have had their daughters raped, and who have been forced to trek miles through woods and hills to relative safety across the border.

All over Albania, cities of refuge have sprung up. Sponsored by the UN or various Christian ministries like the Samaritan’s Purse camp I visited — these are instant cities, with gravel footpaths instead of highways, tents instead of hous-es, soup lines instead of kitchens, and pit latrines instead of powder rooms.

The concept of refuge shelter from danger hearkens back to the mandate God gave to the Israelites to build "cities of refuge" where those who had uninten-tionally killed someone could find asylum from those seeking vengeance.

A tent city, tangible though it is, is but a poor picture of the refuge we have in God. The book of Psalms offers the clear-est picture of this provision.

"impossible" situations, He will comfort you with His love and meet all your needs. "Cast all you anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7).

Are you fearful? Concerned about your future? Feeling powerless? "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea (Ps. 46:1-2). In other words, whatever happens, He’s always there to help you (even with those rough photo assignments or that co-work-er who’s being a jerk).

Sometimes, however, we deprive our-selves of the help God would like to give because of our lack of faith or our attitude of prideful self-sufficiency. We fail to ask Him for help. "You do nor have, because you do nor ask God," James tells us. God wants us to ask.
I love to help my daughter when she has a problem, but sometimes I’ll resist diving in to help, because I want her to learn to ask me for help. In the same way that we take delight when our children come to us for help, God is delighted when His children come to Him with their problems.

Life offers many reasons to fret and feat. Just read the newspaper: Crime, war, cancer and AIDS, (and don’t forget global warming). But when we trust God and run to Him for refuge, then we are truly safe. "But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield" (Ps. 5:11-12.)