~ written by Connie Dunmyer
I’d like to take us back to a scripture – a Psalm – a song – a praise – a reminder that no matter what I am facing – and no matter what you are facing – we are not alone. And not only are we not alone, but the One with us is able to help us through and protect us from every attack that we may be experiencing this day.
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help [a very present help – KJV] in trouble.
God is my REFUGE: “a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.”
God shelters me – keeps me safe. From enemies. From the danger of losing everything. From trouble that comes because of the problems that surround me. God is my refuge. I have no one and nowhere else to go. I must have His help, or all would be lost. But because His very Word says He IS my refuge (not He might be or could be, but IS), I believe that He IS helping. And I shall see the fruition of that help in the land of the living.
God, is my STRENGTH: “the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure.”
Interesting. When I think of the word “strength” I tend to think of it in the physical body, of being strong. But look at this definition. The CAPACITY to WITHSTAND great pressure! That is amazing! When trouble hits, it attacks with such force that it is crushing. Or it would crush if not for the Father being strength FOR me. He is the ability. He is the force. He is the One to withstand the great trial and pressure for me!
So when I consider this, I have this picture in my mind of a “force field” around me – of God standing in the gap – of God pushing back – keeping that danger, the trouble, the great force and pressure away, back, not touching me.
I also like the KJV words – “a very present help”. I know it’s the same as ever-present – but somehow the words “very present” are like God’s not “just here”, but that God is involved. He cares. He’s interested. He is invested. He doesn’t take my cares, my fears, my needs for granted. God is very present – very personal – in dealing with me.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
So then THEREFORE – since He is my refuge – since He is holding back the great force and pressure – since He is so very present, involved, caring and interested – I SHALL NOT FEAR! No matter what!
- If the earth gives way – an earthquake, a sink hole, life becomes a big ol’ pit…
- If the mountains crumble and end up in the ocean – if I never get to see another mountain…
- If the ocean roars and fights back – and erodes my borders and boundaries…
- Even if others come against me …
- Even if the medical prognosis is bad …
- Even if I lose my income …
- Even if life looks very different tomorrow than it did yesterday …
Even if and even then . . . . . I shall not fear!
Why?
Because “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed to him against that day!” ~ 2 Timothy 1:12 KJV
Continuing...
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
It would be easy to “pass this off” as heaven. Which it certainly is. BUT – the Kingdom of Heaven is here and now too. And this is about where God “dwells”. Which is in me. Through Jesus’ sacrifice and the work of the Spirit, “God is within” me. So let’s extrapolate these words towards each of us as individuals, and not simply “a someday city”:
God is within her, … God is within me. He is my shelter and my very present help.
she will not fall; … God’s strength will hold me up, keep me standing.
God will help her … God is invested, involved, and always working for me good.
at break of day. … As surely as the sun rises, God is here, in me, around me, His mercies are new every single day!
God is WITHSTANDING for me.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done. . .
What a great reminder, . . . to remember . . . to count the blessings we already have, but also to remember and recount all the times God has come through for us. He has never failed – and He’s not going to start now.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Be still. Hmmmm.
Can I say that I am “still” before the Lord? Even in my trusting – do I not whine, or try to fix things myself? Or when things get really bad, is my heart ever still? Or do I live in a perpetual state of panic?
Thus, do I really KNOW that God is God? Do I truly believe that He is and will be exalted? In those moments, can I really even go back to verse 1 to read and believe that God is my refuge, my shelter, my safety, my strength, my withstander, my very present help?
Some days are harder than others. Some days its harder than others to remember – to be reminded. Some days it’s hard to breathe. Some days are overwhelming. Some days are dark. And some days are so brilliantly bright – but I am still sad.
“Who is man that you are mindful of him” (Psalm 8)? Why would God give a crap about a people who are so human, so frail, that they succumb to life and emotions like this? And yet, I am reminded that He made us. So He knows us – understands us – and deals with us each individually in just the perfect way that we need.
Even in the darkest of days, God is still in control. He is the GOD of the universe and He will have His Way. Whether I see it or not, whether I feel it or not, whether I’m still or not … God is still in control.
All day – Every Day! Always has been, always is, always will be.
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