Ah, another volcano in Iceland.
Houston, swamped by a hurricane AGAIN?
How about the forest fires in Canada, the drought in California, the heatwave in Europe?
Can China survive yet another overflowing reservoir? Or is this truly the end of all things good?
Three millennia ago, God addressed this very scenario. He knew what would impact our lives in modern times. He foresaw the Time of Troubles, and he gave us encouragement to keep our eyes on him.
Psalm 46:1-3 tells us that:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Let’s look at two words and one phrase in this passage.
Refuge: something that keeps us safe from pursuit, danger, or trouble.
We are safe when we have God at our side. No danger can harm us. Trouble will roll off our shoulders, and we will be protected.
Strength: able to withstand great force or pressure.
The things in the world we read about will put emotional and perhaps financial pressure on us. We will worry. But we will be able to withstand that pressure. We will weather the worry because we have God as our source of strength.
Ever-Present Help: always, always there; non-negotiable; our 24-hour, 9-1-1 call line.
The rest of this passage sums up the meaning of Ever-Present Help:
“We will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Place your trust in God, and you will know his peace even as the world shudders. He will give you comfort and security even in the trouble that overcomes those around you.
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