Finding Shelter In God
BRD REFLECTION 2026
Genesis 33 and Psalm 98 (NIV)
(Henry Tan, Worship Leader, Worship & Music Ministry)
READ:
Read Genesis 33. Verse 17 caught my attention: “Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth.”
OBSERVE:
After years of uncertainty, conflict, and fear, Jacob finally arrived at Sukkoth. The name Sukkoth means “shelters” or “booths”. It was a place where Jacob stopped, rested, and found protection after a long and difficult journey.
What strikes me is that after all the dramatic events surrounding Jacob’s reunion with Esau, the Scripture records a seemingly simple detail about Sukkoth. Yet this detail feels significant. Jacob had spent many years striving, fleeing, worrying, and surviving. Now, at last, he arrived at a place of shelter.
As I reflect on this, I am reminded that God is not only interested in leading us through life’s journeys but also in being our refuge along the way. Psalm 98 calls us to rejoice in the Lord because He is faithful, righteous, and worthy of praise. The psalm shifts our attention from the circumstances around us to the God who reigns over all.
APPLY:
Today’s world can often feel unsettled. Economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, wars, social divisions, and rapid changes can easily fill my mind and heart with anxiety. I sometimes find myself paying more attention to headlines, market movements, or global developments than to the voice of God. I need insights from God’s words and not just sight of what is happening.
The account of Sukkoth reminds me that true security is not found in favourable circumstances, stable economies, or predictable futures. These things can change overnight. My real shelter is God Himself.
When my eyes are fixed on the problems around me, fear can grow. But when my eyes are fixed on God, faith grows instead. Like Jacob, I need places of spiritual shelter where I pause, rest, and remember that God remains sovereign even when the world feels uncertain.
DO:
I will intentionally spend time each day seeking God’s presence before engaging with the news and the pressures of the day. Whenever anxieties arise, I will remind myself that my ultimate security is found in Him and not in the changing circumstances around me.
PRAY:
Lord, thank You for being my shelter and refuge. When I am overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life, help me to fix my eyes on You and not on my fears. Remind me that You remain sovereign, faithful, and good in every season. Teach me to rest in Your presence and trust Your leading each day. May my life be filled with confidence, gratitude, and praise as I take shelter in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
