Our Rejected Refuge

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Psalm 118:22 CSB

Have you ever been hiking on a mountain only to fall and have to grab onto something to stop your downhill slide? This is the picture I get when I think of the word “stronghold.”

Stronghold also makes me think about what I hold onto when I have nothing else. When I have no wisdom, strength, direction, or even hope in a situation, what is my stronghold?

Doing what I should, I would bow before the Lord and beg for Him to fix it! And to help me hold on as He works, even if it takes an exceptionally long time. Doing what I shouldn’t, I’d keep trying in my power and wisdom. If I’ve done all I humanly can, letting go and trusting God is my only recourse.

Pointing toward the rejection Jesus will experience, in Psalm 118, we are told that the stone (Christ) will be rejected and yet will become our cornerstone. Just as a building has a cornerstone that supports the weight and direction of the rest of the construction, we have a cornerstone that directs our lives…all our lives.

Our decision is whether to continue in our strength or His. I wish I could say I always hold on to Him in every situation as my refuge, stronghold, and cornerstone. The truth is, I don’t always.

But the longer I walk with Jesus, the more history I have with Him to look back on and be reminded that He is enough! He uses what He has shown me in the past to do my part, but He truly becomes the stronger part of the yoke as I walk with Him step by step.

Lord, remind me that You are strong enough, wise enough, ENOUGH for any situation. Help me turn to you more quickly, listen more attentively, and obey immediately when you show me a next step. As my stronghold, you are also my refuge in all of life.

Chris Adams