THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
My Refuge and My Fortress.

By Julia Sinitsyna November 9th, 2025

“He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:2

I was 18 years old, and had been attending church for six months. It was winter, and I’d gone to visit a church friend in a small village for the weekend. We’d had a great time, and later, she’d walked me to my bus stop. Looking out the window, I thought about the pleasant time I’d had as I watched a strong wind howl outside, blowing the snow around. In the back of the bus, a rowdy group of young men were laughing and making fun of the other passengers; so I sat quietly, trying not to be noticed.​

Just before my stop, I headed for the door. And that’s when they saw me. They ran up to me, joking and yelling, “Hey girl! Come with us!”​

Of course, I was terrified, so I just stood there nonchalantly—but praying hard! I clearly understood that as soon as I stepped of the bus, those guys would follow me. Frantically, I wondered whether I should go further, hoping they would leave the bus first, or just get off at my stop. It was a dark and deserted non-residential area—with only a market, a stadium, a department store, a university, and a small square. While my brain worked feverishly, I kept asking God to protect me.

Suddenly, a woman in her 40s with a little girl came up to me. Pushing the men out of the way, she quietly but confidently said, “You will come with me!”​

I nodded, and as we stepped out, the guys tumbled out of the bus with us. The three of us turned in one direction as she walked confidently beside me. Behind us, the guys continued to laugh and talk about us. Then, all of a sudden, their voices began to fade. Turning around, I saw they were going a different direction. “Thank you!” I said to the woman. She nodded and turned right.

As I crossed the deserted road, suddenly a door opened and my fellow university students came out, carrying a desk. “Hi Julia!” they greeted me, and then moved on. Wow! I thought, If that woman hadn’t come along, I would still have met my friends, and they would have helped me! A few more feet up the road, another small group of people approached. “Hello, Julia!” someone said, and I recognized him as a young man from my church. He had just taken his family down the street to the bus stop.

​As I walked on, I couldn’t help but wonder, What are the odds of meeting so many familiar people at such a late hour—on a Sunday evening, in the middle of the winter?

I was quite aware that my very best Protector that night had been God. He sent people to meet me and support my spirit; but He, Himself, was there, too. I thanked Him with all my heart for His help.