The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psalms 9:9
I recently stumbled on this, so I want to share it with you. This discovery has clarified something that happened to me in a dream about five years ago.
The word Sagav (refuge) in the Hebrew means “to be high” It means a place way up high, away and unaccessible. The word for oppressed is adah, which means to be crushed under something or like having a heavy weight on top of you. The word for trouble is tsarar, which means to be bound up.
This word Sagav, tells us that God not only protects us; He lifts us up, carries us away from situations that could completely crush us, bind us up, or tear us down.
About a year after my son died, I cried out to God, my only hope, telling Him I needed more. I was not going to make it if I didn’t have something I clearly didn’t already have. I desperately needed a different perspective. I sought Him numerous times saying, “God, you will have to do something for me to be able to live. I need a different view or understanding….something! The pain is too great. Help me! I have to see more. I need a heavenly view.”
I had a dream. I don’t have a lot of memorable dreams but this definitely was. I not only remember every detail of the dream, but when I woke up, I felt different. I had peace, felt joy, and had a real sense of relief that has stayed with me.
I’ll do my best to share the dream with you. I saw myself walking on a empty beach. Beautiful white sand laid neatly next to the deepest blue ocean I’d ever seen. The water was calm and quiet and the surroundings serene, but I was aware of a enemy presence that was catching up to me. I looked around and couldn’t see anyone or anything, but I knew it was there. When I had walked as far as I safely could on the beach, I thought,” Where can I go? The enemy will catch up to me if I stay here.” Suddenly out of nowhere, a friend appeared standing on the shore. We didn’t speak, he just picked me up and and set me in the ocean. I began swimming, more like coasting, effortlessly through the calm sea. It was a wonderful feeling to be gently pushed along the blue water making the journey easy and enjoyable. However, I could see that I was coming to a dead end. What then? Where and how can I escape from here? Suddenly, I felt my body being lifted up. Gently, slowly carried up, up, up, up into the sky. It was a beautiful and peaceful ride; floating up in the air as I watched the sea below get farther and farther away. After a while of this glorious feeling, I knew I would soon hit a place where the enemy would be waiting. I thought, “Now what? Where can I go from here?” Seemed impossible. I looked up and there was a little house in the distance. It was like a tree house suspended in mid air. This was the next safe place God had provided for me to go and rest. I reached the house, stepped inside and stayed for a bit enjoying the view, but quickly became aware that this landing pad and the peace it gave me was temporary. I thought, “Where now? Could there be more? I think I have exhausted all my possibilities.” As I stood looking out thorough the doorway of the house, I saw a helicopter coming towards me. It was a helicopter that looked like a Volkswagen (I love Volkswagons). There was a captain and a co-captain in the front seats, and they carefully pulled in as close to the house as possible so I could step inside the helicopter and not fall to the earth below. They looked at each other with big smiles as I stepped inside and said, “We got you. Just relax and enjoy the ride from here.” I felt all the weight go out from my body. Everything in me relaxed. I looked down to the sea below as we began our journey going higher and higher into the sky. I rested my head against the side of the inside of the helicopter. I felt a deep peace that I had never experienced before. All the stress and worry poured out of me. All the vigilance, and the tension I had carried my whole life felt like it melted away. I knew I was in safe hands and could finally and completely let go.
I woke up and I was smiling.
That dream gave me so much hope! I believe God was telling me that He does this and would do this again and again. He supernaturally takes us to new heights in Him no matter the threat or hardship, or the suffering and pain, because He is our Sagav, our refuge. That is who He is. The Bible says we are seated with Christ in Heavenly places, high above all rule and authority 1 Corinthians 2:5-6.
Psalms 9:9 shows that King David knew this truth. Only God can lift us up and away from the storms of life, where we find rest in Him. From there, we can look down in peace from the height of His care even as the storms of life rage on beneath us.