09/04/2026
Finding Refuge
βIn the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling.β β Psalm 27:5
Pain has a way of making old habits look attractive again. When pressure rises, the mind often reaches for whatever once provided relief, even if that relief came with a heavy price. This is why recovery and Teshuvah have so much in common. Both involve learning not only how to leave bo***ge, but also how to stop returning to it when life becomes difficult.
The Israelites experienced this after leaving Egypt. When the wilderness became uncomfortable, they began talking about going back. Slavery suddenly looked better simply because it was familiar. Freedom was new, and new things can feel uncertain.
We do the same thing. We can start romanticizing old relationships, old habits, old environments or old ways of coping. We forget the pain they caused and remember only the temporary comfort they gave us.
Teshuvah calls us to be brutally honest. We cannot keep asking God to move us forward while keeping one foot pointed toward Egypt. If God brought you out of something, do not allow a difficult day to convince you that bo***ge was safer.
God wants to become the place where you find comfort, stability and peace. That process may take time, but eventually your heart can learn a new response. Instead of running back to what broke you, you can run toward the One who is restoring you.
Prayer: Lord, strengthen me when old patterns begin to look familiar or comforting. Help me remember why You brought me out and teach me to find refuge in You.
Faithfully,
Kent & Beverly Mattox