Daily Devotional: Where Do I Go When Trouble Comes?

By David A. Case

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’” (Psalm 91:1–2, NKJV)

Every person chooses to live somewhere. Not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally. As human beings, we cannot help but connect. We connect with people, with patterns, with habits, with thoughts, and with the spiritual realm. Much of that connecting happens almost instinctively. When trouble comes, we do not usually stop and carefully decide where we will run. We go to the place that has become familiar. That place reveals what we trust.

Psalm 91 gives us a different picture. The psalmist speaks of living in the secret place of the Most High and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. He is not visiting God in an emergency. He is dwelling there. He declares that the Lord is his refuge and fortress, his God in whom he trusts. Trust, in this sense, is not a religious idea floating around in the head. Trust is a place to live.

This is why our response matters more than our claims. Our egos can tell us that we trust God. We can say the right things. We can believe we believe. Yet when trouble comes, our feet reveal our faith. Where do I run? Do I run back into old patterns? Do I run to control? Do I run to people who match the broken normals of my past? Do I run to isolation, anger, food, entertainment, spending, lust, alcohol, or self-pity? Or do I run to God?

The place I flee to is my place of trust. That may be uncomfortable to admit, but it is also clarifying. If I consistently run to something other than God, I am drawing strength from that source. The question then becomes: what kind of strength is it giving me? Some places give temporary relief but long-term death. Some places feel familiar but keep me in bondage. Some places calm the moment while deepening the wound.

To trust God means more than thinking good thoughts about Him. To trust God means I flee to Him and then listen to Him. It means I let Him define what is right. It means I choose His commands over my instincts. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. To our generation, that can sound harsh or controlling. In a biblical worldview, love, trust, listening, and obedience belong together.

If I say I trust God but refuse to obey Him, I am not really trusting God. I am trusting myself while using God’s name. If God says not to lie and I tell myself that everyone tells white lies, then I have chosen self as refuge. If God says to forgive and I protect bitterness, I have chosen self as refuge. If God says seek first His kingdom and I panic my way into control, I have chosen self as refuge.

The invitation of Psalm 91 is not merely to visit God when life breaks. It is to live in Him. To abide. To make Him the place I run, the place I rest, and the place from which I respond. Where I go in trouble will become the place I live. The question is whether that place is life or death.

Reflection Question

When trouble comes, where do I instinctively go first?

Prayer

Father, show me where I run when trouble comes. Expose the places I have trusted more than You. Teach me to dwell in You, not merely visit You in crisis. Become my refuge, my safety, and my strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Obedience Step for Today

Think of one recent moment of stress. Write down where you ran for comfort, control, or relief. Then pray Psalm 91:1–2 aloud and take one action today that moves you toward God as your refuge.

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This devotional was inspired by the book Heart Change Handbook by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.

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If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through The Heart Change Handbook. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.

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