This morning I woke up to a prayer request. I got up, grabbed my coffee, turned on my computer, and there, in my e-mail inbox, was this prayer request. It was from a mom . . . a dear friend of ours . . . one of those friends that, though we don’t connect very often, there’s an affinity and affection that binds us to one another . . . and she asked Sue and I, as well others she knew and trusted, to pray for her daughter. There was a bit of desperation in her note . . . the concern of a mom . . . the need for God to intervene. I’m guessing that’s what “set me up” for this truth from Proverbs to jump out at me this morning . . .

“In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.” (Prov. 14:26).

It’s translated a bit differently in the ESV and NIV, “In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. (Prov. 14:26 ESV)

It’s a truth followed by a promise. The truth is that for those who know God . . . who have entered into relationship with Him by faith . . . who have been made spiritually alive by the work of the cross and through the blood of Jesus . . . who have yielded to the Spirit’s inner-working . . . who willingly bow the knee to the Creator of all things in reverent awe, respect, and healthy fear . . . for those, there is a confidence, a “strong confidence.” The NIV says they have a “secure fortress.” There is a security . . . a reliable and faithful place of trust . . . a stronghold where they can turn . . . confidently. This, as believers, we know to be true . . . not just because God’s word says it, but because we have known it “in real life” . . . time and time again. That’s why we pray . . . and why we ask others to pray . . . confident in the God who hears our prayers.

And then there’s the promise . . . and the subtle variations in translation.

For us NKJV readers, the promise is that for “His children”, that is, “God’s children”, there is a place of refuge. That’s what a strong confidence brings . . . a place of protection. That’s the promise upon which we can be encouraged to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Php. 4:6-7). When we go to that place of refuge through prayer, it will set a garrison around our desperate hearts and settle upon them a peace beyond comprehension. Oh, wondrous promise of God . . . oh, precious fortress of God . . . . oh, blessed peace of God.

For those who read the NIV or ESV, the promise comes across a little differently. There the promise is for the children of those who fear the LORD. The strong confidence of the parents provides a refuge for their children. The relationship that mom and dad have with the LORD has a sheltering benefit for their kids. Of course, as our kids get older, it’s their choice as to whether or not they avail themselves of that shelter and refuge . . . an act of “free will” as to whether they will know first hand the fear of the LORD and it’s associated “strong confidence.” But there is something in knowing that, as a parent, my faith has a sheltering affect for my kids . . . even when they are on their own. And part of that is because, through my access into the holy of holies through the blood of Jesus . . . through the confidence I have to boldly approach the throne of grace to find help in time of need (Heb. 4:16) . . . I can bring my kids’ names and needs before the One who is my strong confidence . . . and ask others who share a “similar fear and faith” to do the same.

Through the strong confidence we know, we can bring our kids to the place of refuge. What privilege . . . what promise . . . time to pray . . .