During 2025, Peachtree Church is focusing on the Book of Psalms with a series called Dwell, through which we seek to deepen our conversation with God and open ourselves to hearing his response. The practice of praying three times each day will unite the voices of our hearts and souls as we seek the day when we will see the full realization of the Kingdom of God, promised in Revelation 21:3: “…Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
We will email devotionals twice weekly with Monday’s providing an overview of the Psalm as a whole, and Wednesday’s focused on that week’s Daily Dwell.
God is our refuge and strength,
Psalm 46:1-11
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.
Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Devotional
Psalm 46 is helpful for the person who feels like their world is coming unraveled. The psalm opens with one of the strongest declarations in all of Scripture: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (v.1) More than an offer of comfort, this phrase helps to recalibrate our instincts. When life shakes us, we reach for what feels familiar or controllable. But the psalmist directs us to something better: to the Refuge who isn’t fragile, shifting, or temporary.
I hope we sensed the dramatic imagery in this psalm, like mountains falling into the sea, waters roaring, nations raging, and kingdoms tottering. These are symbols of the very things we rely on—creation, institutions, stability. The psalmist pictures all of it giving way. Why? To show that while everything else trembles, God does not.
Right in the middle of this chaos, the scene shifts: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.” (v.4) In the ancient world, cities needed rivers for protection, nourishment, and life. Jerusalem had no natural river, so the psalm is theological, not geographical, for God himself is the river that brings gladness to Jerusalem. Even though chaos is in the background, the redeemed of God are sustained by the presence of God.
It’s always good to look for anything repeated in a passage. We find that the phrase “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” is repeated twice. (vs. 7 and 11) Perhaps this is supposed to be the main idea of the psalm: while we may not be strong enough to endure upheaval by ourselves, God never abandons his people amid upheaval.
Psalm 46 ends by calling us to watch for what God is doing in the world: “Come, behold the works of the LORD.” (v.8) In other words, don’t stare endlessly at what threatens us, but look at the God who holds everything together.
The psalm invites us to rest, not because the world is calm, but because God is unshakable. No matter what breaks around you, God remains your refuge, strength, and very present help.
For Reflection
- What’s the most challenging thing you are facing today? How have you seen God work within a similar situation in the Bible’s story? What promises can you cling to during this time?
- Is there someone you know who has shown incredible trust in God during a difficult time? What habit or trait did they use to help them navigate uncertainty?
- Who is someone you could confide in during your season of hardship who will support you?
Prayer
Father, Son, and Spirit, we need you every hour. Today is no different. For those in our midst who are weary and heavy-laden, we ask that you’d provide them the rest they need for the next phase of their journey.
Lord, we know that your people could be a source of healing and comfort for the nations’ pains. Help us to not only receive your strength but also distribute it out to others.
For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
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Devotionals