may 10, 2022

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.
 
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
He lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:1-7

Devotional

Psalm 46 is a song of trust. No matter what “gives way”, no matter what falls, no matter the quaking or the uproar—God is our place to run and seek shelter. God is ever-present, ALWAYS there. The “river whose streams make glad the city of God” is an image of life-giving sustenance.

And yet, all the assurances of the safety of God’s care are an indication that things in this world are not good. There is every reason to be afraid, to mistrust, to crave refuge from the terrors that threaten us from within and without. Anywhere we look, we encounter potentially disturbing circumstances that can veil the presence of God, and deceive us into thinking that He is absent.

Think about something that is “roaring” in your life right now. Notice how it has set up its home inside you. Name the terrors it presents, the fears which blind you to the presence of God. Now go back and read Psalm 46 again—read it out loud—and witness how the power of God is at work to protect you, the one He loves.

For Reflection

Name one part of your life which threatens you right now.

Let God see that part. Offer it to him and ask for His protection.

Prayer

God, I lay before you the fears that surround me, that seem to eat my very soul. This soul belongs to you; receive me into your place of refuge, protect me against the wicked storms swirling around me. Help me see that you are really here, really beside me, really supporting me. Let me rest in your loving presence and trust in your strength. Amen.