God is our refuge and strength
an ever present help
in time of 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...
Be still and know that He is God.
Ps 46
These handful of verses have taken on fresh meaning to my soul since our family crisis enveloped us in late June (refer to the July14th post). Prior to this nightmare, that has kept us on our knees battling the enemy in an effort to retain our peace and resolving to maintain some semblance of soundness in our minds, I focused solely upon
God being our help in trouble.
I like those words.
They feel good.
Reassuring.
Comforting.
I want to know that God will help me in my trouble! Problem is, I tend to include a few extra words that are not exactly found in scripture, words like...
He will get me out of trouble.
He will fix my trouble.
Rescue me from trouble.
Stop the trouble.
Any of these would do really. Have your pick. I'm not fussy.
But unfortunately those words are not found.
Bummer.
In fact, if we keep scrolling through Ps 46 we find some serious trouble infolding...
The earth gives way.
The mountains fall into the sea.
The waters roar and foam.
The mountains quake.
We're talking disaster, crisis, panic, fear, absolute pandemonium! It just doesn't get much worse than the earth giving way beneath us.
Ever felt like it has? Or like it's about to?
So what's up with those verses that pronounce God being our help, strength and refuge?
What kind of help is God when you find yourself beneath the rubble of an earthquake, or riding the surging waves of a storm or precariously clinging to a rock that is sliding into the sea?
I needed to find some answers.
So I read the verses again...
Two words from Psalms 46 grabbed my soul this time-
EVER PRESENT.
That's it! That's what I overlooked before.
He is My Ever Present.
He is My Ever Present.
THAT is my help!
He is my refuge and strength an ever present help in time of trouble.
Beautiful. Amazing.
He is my refuge and strength an ever present help in time of trouble.
Beautiful. Amazing.
The Presence of the Almighty God of the Universe is with me. His presence is unshakable and unmoving. He is available and everlasting.
He is with me. Near me. On me. In me.
God doesn't bring us some kind of refuge.
He is the refuge.
He seldom offers an escape.
In Him escape is no longer necessary.
With His presence we need not fear or panic.
He need not give us strength.
He is our strength.
He is the refuge.
He seldom offers an escape.
In Him escape is no longer necessary.
With His presence we need not fear or panic.
He need not give us strength.
He is our strength.
Oh, I knew this, so do you, but somehow seeing these two words-ever present- in the context of these verses brought me a comfort I so desperately needed.
So, let the earth give way, the mountains fall into the sea, the waters foam, roar and surge around me, I need not fear. I can Be Still and Know that He is indeed God and that God Almighty is Ever Present with me through it all.
That is my help.
God, we are grateful for your ever present presence,
Amy Joy
,
Amy Joy
