Read
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91:1-2
Reflect
Its name was the USS Constitution, and from its earliest days it was a key part of the United States Navy. Built in 1794, the frigate was quickly put to use protecting U.S. interests in the Mediterranean Sea, including our country’s efforts against Barbary pirates off of the Tripoli coast. When a peace treaty was negotiated with Tripoli, it was signed on the deck of the Constitution.
But it was during the War of 1812 that the Constitution earned its lasting reputation. The vaunted British Navy was feared around the globe, and prior to the war it used its might to stop ships from other countries and “impress,” or force, sailors from those ships to serve in the British Navy. One such ship was the HMS Guerrière, which had stopped an American ship and impressed one of its sailors in 1811.
But on August 18, 1812, the Constitution caught the Guerrière by itself 600 miles east of Boston and a furious battle ensued. For about half an hour the two ships blasted each other in close combat, and while the Constitution‘s fire wrecked the Guerrière‘s rigging and rendered it useless, the Guerrière‘s cannon shots seemed to just bounce off of the Constitution‘s sides. After the unexpected American victory, the Constitution had earned a new nickname — “Old Ironsides.” During the war, its fame only expanded as it continued to capture seven British warships. After the war, the Constitution continued to serve for close to 60 more years before being retired. Today, she is a floating museum in Boston, where she floats as a symbol of the resilient American spirit.
When I think of the hull of Old Ironsides repelling cannonballs as if it was made of steel, I’m reminded of the safety we have within the care of the Lord. There are few things in life that are truly reliable all of the time. In fact, I can’t think of anything that has a 100 percent track record of protecting us. Everything in life is fallible, even if it is safe almost all of the time. But God is always dependable. He is a refuge in which we can seek safety and protection when earthly strongholds fail. He will always hear when we call, and He will always answer our prayers according to our needs and His will.
Make sure as you go through your day that you don’t neglect to reach out to the Lord in prayer in the midst of your smallest and greatest needs. Seek shelter in His dwelling place, which is stronger than even Old Ironsides. With the Lord standing guard at your side, you have nothing to fear.
Reflection copyright © 2021 Doug DeBolt.
