Finding shelter

During my National Service days, I rode a motorcycle almost everywhere. More than once, I was caught in one of Singapore’s sudden tropical downpours with nowhere to take cover. There were stretches of road where no bus stop, shophouse, or overhead shelter could be found. Within moments, I would be completely drenched, with no choice but to press on until I eventually found a place to stop. Those experiences taught me never to take shelter for granted.

Even today, many of us still find ourselves surprised by an unexpected burst of rain. Yet we are also grateful for the many sheltered walkways, overhead bridges, bus stops, MRT stations, and covered linkways that now connect much of our HDB estates and parks. They make our journeys safer and more comfortable. In contrast, the old five-foot ways beneath traditional shophouses, once the familiar refuge for pedestrians escaping the rain or the afternoon sun have become a less common sight in our rapidly changing city.

There is something strangely comforting about standing beneath a shelter during a heavy downpour. Complete strangers gather together, listening to the steady rhythm of raindrops on the roof, watching streams of water flow along the roadside, and patiently waiting for the storm to pass. For a few quiet moments, the rush of life comes to a halt. We are reminded that sometimes the wisest thing we can do is not to run ahead, but simply to wait.

Those moments often lead me to reflect on God’s faithful care throughout my life. There have been countless occasions when He has sheltered me from dangers I never knew existed, guided me away from unwise choices, strengthened me when I felt weak, and carried me through seasons that seemed too difficult to endure. Looking back, I realise that many of His greatest acts of protection were invisible to me at the time. He was watching over me long before I recognised His loving hand.

Just as we instinctively seek shelter when the rain begins to fall, God lovingly invites us to find our refuge in Him when the storms of life arrive. We all face seasons of disappointment, uncertainty, illness, grief, unanswered prayers, or unexpected change. While He does not always calm the storm immediately, He promises to be our safe shelter in the midst of it. His presence gives us peace when our hearts are anxious, strength when we are weary, courage when we are afraid, and hope when the future seems uncertain. Under His care, we discover that true security is found not in the absence of storms, but in the assurance that we never face them alone.

As you reflect on this familiar scene, give thanks for the many unseen ways God has been your shelter over the years. Remember the prayers He answered, the dangers He spared you from, the people He sent to encourage you, and the grace that carried you through life’s darkest days. The God who faithfully sheltered you yesterday remains your refuge today and your hope for tomorrow. Having experienced His loving protection, may we also become a place of shelter for others, offering a listening ear, a word of encouragement, a helping hand, or a prayer to someone weathering a difficult season. Sometimes, the greatest refuge God provides is through the compassionate presence of one of His children.