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. (Psalm 46:1–3, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Sometimes. the familiarity of the text causes us to lose focus on what it is telling us. With a tendency to merely gloss over what it is saying, while missing altogether what it is telling us.
- Refuge – a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.
- Strength – the capacity to withstand great force or pressure.
- Ever-present – always there.
- Help – to give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need.
- Fear – a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc.
- Etcetera – a number of unspecified additional persons or things, such as the earth giving way, mountains falling into the sea… Even a pesky virus.
My Advice – What is it that you fear? Do you have to face it alone? No, God is always present. Do you have to face it in your own strength? No, God will be our strength. Do you feel helpless? You are not, God will provide what is needed to see you through it. That is, if you’ve taken refuge in Him through faith in His Son.
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man [or anything else in all creation] do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5–6, NIV 1984).
- Never – at no time in the past or future; on no occasion; not ever.
- Forsake – to leave someone for ever, especially when they need you.
- Confidence – the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.
It’s more than a feeling. It’s more than a belief. It is the truth. And that is a comforting thought in these troubling and turbulent days. Know Him, know peace. No Him, no peace.
