When the World is on Fire

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August 03, 2026

When the World is on Fire: Finding Refuge in God

When chaos breaks in, whether through natural disaster, personal crisis, or unexpected loss, most of us scramble for answers. We look for someone to blame, something to control, or a way to explain it all away. But there is a better response, and it has been written down for thousands of years.

In 1755, a massive earthquake devastated Lisbon, Portugal, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe at the time. Fires broke out across the city. Tsunamis flooded the lower districts. Nearly 85% of the city was destroyed. And it happened on a major Christian holiday, in a Christian nation.

The philosopher Voltaire used this event to argue there could be no God. His answer to suffering? "It's a mystery. Figure it out." Not exactly comforting.

Let's explore what Scripture actually says.

How We Naturally Respond to Chaos and Fear

When disaster strikes, most people respond in one of two ways.

The first is to lash out. When you feel violated, helpless, and afraid, the impulse is to swing at whatever is nearby. Blame the government, blame the church, blame anyone. It is a way of releasing fear and frustration when you do not know where else to put it.

The second is to over-explain. Suddenly everyone becomes an expert. People who have never studied a topic in their lives will confidently explain exactly why something happened and exactly what should be done. This is just another way of managing fear by pretending to have control we do not actually have.

Neither of these responses brings peace. And deep down, most of us know that.

What Does the Bible Say About Finding Strength in Hard Times?

Psalm 46 was written by the Sons of Korah, descendants of a man who literally had the earth open up and swallow him for rebelling against God. These were people who had every reason to fear. And yet, this is what they wrote:

"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge." - Psalm 46:1-3

This is not a therapeutic tip for managing anxiety. This is a declaration. The psalmist is not saying life will be calm. He is saying that even when everything around you is shaking, there is one thing that cannot be taken from you: God Himself.

What Does It Mean That God Is Our Refuge?

A refuge is a place of shelter. A place of safety. Something solid when everything else is crumbling.

The psalm continues: "The Lord of Heaven's armies is here among us. The God of Israel is our fortress." - Psalm 46:7

The phrase "God of Israel" is not just referring to a nation. It is referring to the God of Jacob, a man who was a schemer, a trickster, and a con artist. Jacob wrestled with God, literally, and walked away with a limp and a new name: Israel.

God made a covenant with Jacob, not because Jacob deserved it, but because God had a plan to bless the whole world through that family. God's love could not be derailed even by Jacob's failures.

What Is a Covenant and Why Does It Matter?

A covenant is an agreement that defines how two parties will relate to each other. When you get married, you make a covenant. You say, in effect: I know there will be hard times. I know there will be worse. And I am committing to love you through all of it.

The Old and New Testaments are literally named after covenants. The word "testament" is another word for covenant.

The question is: how do we enter a covenant with God? How do we know how He wants to be approached? Every religion across history has been trying to answer that question, often by guessing.

Then Jesus came. As John 1 tells us, Jesus is God's Word spoken in human form. God condescended to speak our language. He walked among us so we could learn the covenant, so we could understand His heart.

What the Cross Reveals About God's Love

One of the most unexpected things Jesus revealed is this: God moves first. He does not wait for us to get our act together. He enters our world, He suffers with us, and He suffers for us.

The cross was not just a payment for sin, though it was that. It was also a revelation of God's heart. Just as a parent's willingness to suffer for their child shows how deeply they love that child, Jesus dying on the cross shows how much God loves us.

That is why we can call God our refuge with confidence. He already proved it. He moved first. He died for all of us, the tricksters, the con men, the ones who do not measure up. And because of that, He can be our safe place.

Christians who have been imprisoned for their faith, who have had everything taken from them, consistently say the same thing: the one thing no one could take was their faith in God. In that cell, with nothing else, God was a very real and present source of comfort.

Two Very Different Responses to the Same Earthquake

Voltaire looked at the Lisbon earthquake and concluded there was no God. His answer to suffering was to endure it alone, without meaning or hope.

At the same time, two English brothers named John and Charles Wesley responded very differently. Charles wrote entire books of hymns in response to that same earthquake, declaring the faithfulness of God in the middle of disaster. He even wrote a paraphrase of Psalm 46, which included these words:

"Let earth's inmost center quake and shatter nature mourn... Lo, we stand secure in God amidst a ruined world."

Same earthquake. Completely different response. The difference was where they placed their trust.

Practical Ways to Respond When Life Falls Apart

There are a few things here worth putting into practice:

- Build your relationship with God before the crisis comes. Get in the habit of finding God as your refuge every day. When terrible times inevitably arrive, you will already be close to Him.
- Organize your life around what actually matters. Disasters have a way of clarifying priorities fast. Do not wait for destruction to remind you what is important. The things you would grab on the way out the door are the things that actually matter to you.
- Let the community around you help, and help others in return. Some of us are strong in areas where others are weak right now. Share your strength. And be willing to receive help too. If you refuse to let others help you, you are robbing them of the blessing of giving.
- Do not react out of fear. Fear makes us reactive, irrational, and sometimes dangerous. As Scripture says, love casts out fear. If you find yourself overwhelmed by fear or anger, acknowledge the helplessness honestly rather than pretending to have control you do not have. Then trust God and trust the people around you.

Life Application

This week, before another crisis forces the question, take time to honestly evaluate where you are placing your trust. Is it in your ability to explain and control things? Is it in your possessions or your plans? Or is it in God, who has already proven His love through the cross?

The challenge this week is simple: spend intentional time with God each day, even just a few minutes. Treat it as practice for the hard days. And look for one person around you who needs strength you currently have, whether that is a spare room, a meal, a prayer, or just your presence.

Ask yourself these questions:

- If I had to leave my home with only what mattered most, what would I take? What does that reveal about my real priorities?
- When chaos comes into my life, do I tend to lash out, over-explain, or turn to God? What does my default response say about where my trust actually is?
- Is there someone in my life right now who needs me to share my strength with them? And am I humble enough to let others share their strength with me?
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