Psalm 46 – Your Constant Help
God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil. (Psalms 46:1-3)
The Psalmist is describing a time when all the things in this world that should be the most firm, permanent, and reliable have suddenly disappeared, like mountains that have stood for thousands of years suddenly crumbling away. Then life is turned upside down, like a roaring and foaming tsunami washing in and sending you tumbling. Sound like anything you’ve experienced over the last few months?
When things like that happen, it’s easy to wonder if God was powerless to stop it. Maybe he didn’t even see it coming. He was just as surprised as we are. We know he’ll do the best he can to help us, but when crisis comes it’s easy to believe that ultimately we’re on our own, and we have to figure out for ourselves how to deal with the mess.
But that’s not the picture this psalm paints for us. It says God is “our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” God wasn’t caught off guard. He’s not running around, trying to fix things as best as he can. He’s strong. He’s protective. And he’s always present. We just need to lean on him!