“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
Our verse of the week is a very encouraging one. Last week, we saw that we have hope for our weary souls in God. This week, we see that God is our refuge and our strength. He is our helper and is very present in our trouble. This should still our worries and fears! Trouble will come, but we have a very present help in the midst of it. This should empower us forward this week!
Very present in this text could also mean well proved. I love that. Translation: God is very good at this. He is a well proved help in the midst of our trouble. He is very present and He is very good at intervening when the walls cave in. Do you trust Him? Do you take Him at His Word? Do you believe that He will meet you in the heartache?
One of the most powerful ways to trust in God’s ability to be our refuge and strength is to see that He knows our pain and struggles. Hebrews 2:18 tells us that Jesus suffered and was tempted, just like us today. You do not serve a God who is unable to empathize with your temptations and sufferings. He has been there. He is not some lofty heavenly being who cannot imagine what suffering feels like. Jesus suffered in a mighty way. He knows your pain. He is able to help.
Another way to magnify your trust in God’s faithfulness as a helper is to look at all that He has done in the past. Look at how He can split a sea wide open in order to save His people (Exodus 14). Look how He can shut the mouths of lions to show His power (Daniel 6). Look at what He has done for you. Look at His provision over your life. Lift your eyes off of your circumstance and put them on the promises and faithfulness of God. He is clearly well proved!
Let’s end by looking at the application of our verse today. What is the result of knowing that God is our refuge and our strength? To fully grasp Psalm 46:1, let’s examine the two verses that follow it. The psalmist drives home the point of verse one by following it with verses two and three.
“Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” (Psalm 46:2-3)
Therefore we will not fear. Fear can be silenced when we understand just how good God is at being a helper in our trouble. Even if the earth gives way and the mountains jump into the sea, we do not have to fear. No matter what life throws at us, we have a refuge and a strength. Not just any refuge and strength, but One who is very present. We have a refuge and strength that is well proved. He is very good at this. You can trust Him, no matter what comes your way.
Your God understands suffering. He was tempted just like you are. He was beaten and nailed to a cross. Pain is not foreign to Him. Your God can split the sea and shut the mouths of lions. Helping you in your trouble is not hard for Him. He will continue to be faithful, no matter what your circumstances tell you. He is very present and He is well proved. Therefore, we will not fear this week!