Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The chapter, especially verse 10, has been a constant reminder and encouragement to me over this past year. I will share more on that in another post. Life presents many troubles/trials to us that are at times overwhelming. In those moments we feel helpless because we do not have control over our troubles. In those moments fear and doubts can begin to run our lives. God used this verse (i.e., verse 1) last evening to remind me of who He is at all times and in such moments of trouble. Let's dissect the verse to get a deeper understanding and thankfulness.

Upward: God, the first word in this verse. We should interpret that as being very important. Also, if God was not the first word He would still be the focus. The verse is about Him not us. The text is about who God is and what that means for us. If you were to rewrite the verse and still capture its meaning you would see that the focus is God. Here are a few examples:
(1) Our refuge and strength is God. He is always our help even in trouble.
(2) When we are experiencing trouble, God our present help, is our refuge and strength.
(3) In trouble, God is our refuge and strength, our very present help.
(4) Our refuge and strength, our ever present help in trouble is God.

There are more ways to rewrite the verse that correctly interprets and presents its focus. Anyway, you get my "drift" (i.e., what am saying), the conclusion is the same. It is all about God!

Inward: Knowing the verse is about God should be encouraging to us. It is personal not impersonal nor abstract. The psalmist said," God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Those underlined words point to the personal relationship that exists between God and us. Trouble magnifies God and our need for him. We see our insufficiency when we experience troubles, especially when they are many and/or big. We freak out (you know what that looks like for you). Freaking out is one of our natural reactions. We may attempt to resolve the trouble to attain peace but will fail in our own strength. Looking internally is not the answer. If that was the answer then the psalmist would have given options with God as one of them. Then it would not have been absolute (i.e., only about God). Even though we may wish to be our own refuge and strength the truth is that we are not. We can only be strong up to a point. We can only protect ourselves up to a point. We can only encourage ourselves in ourselves up to a point. Also, others in their own strength can only protect, strengthen, and help us up to a point. When measured against the trouble our and others' human efforts fall short. The reason we fall short is for us to find out, experience, and hold fast to the truth that God is our only refuge and strength, our very present help.

Again, it is all about God. Our insufficiency should not make us mad at or hate God. Instead it should move us toward God. It is pride that keeps us away. It is pride that causes us to hate God. Isn't it foolish for us to continually allow trouble to cripple us when God is our very present help? Isn't it insane for us to consistently attempt to be our own refuge, strength, and help when it must be God? Isn't it ridiculous when we expect or ask others to be that for us? God is our refuge and strength, our very present help is first of all internal and personal. It is a personal experience with God. God brings us into his refuge. God brings us into his strength. God brings us into his help. At the same time, God as our refuge, strength, and help is brought into us. He takes up residence in us by placing his Spirit in us. Therefore, instead of summing our inner human strength, which is weak and feeble anyway, we rely on his Spirit.

Outward: Again, the verse reassures us of who God is in case and when we forget. It is a confession from the psalmist that rings through to all generations. It is a declaration that breathes confidence in God. Note that it is not just a thought (did not say I thought to myself) because such truth cannot be kept inside. Have you ever noticed when you really believe something you are not afraid to say it? You don't just keep it inside and let it remain a thought. You are not afraid or ashamed to tell others. Why? Because you believe it to be true and won't believe differently. Belief can make things true, such is the case here. Please note that I am not saying that anything we believe is true. Anyway, how does the psalmist know this to be true? How can we know it is true for us as well? Like the psalmist, we can know it is true because God had proven himself in this manner before and continues. To say that God is always present seems a stretch, right? That's because we view trouble, and life from our perspective. There are times when I wish to excuse myself from trouble but of course I can't. However, God is ever present. You see that? He does not run away or wish to or does excuse himself. He is always there. He does not just show up when we are in trouble. Thank God that is not the case, even if we think that God should take a break when we do not have trouble. If we think in this manner then we need a reminder. Note what Jesus said to his disciples in John 15:33, "... In the world you will have trouble." What does that mean? Well, I take that to mean we are always in trouble of some kind. Those who belong to Christ have trouble from the flesh, the world, and the devil. However, God is our very present help. There is and will be trouble but God is always present. He is not only present but our very present help as our refuge and strength. He helps us. He protects us. He strengthens us. He does so in different ways. Through his word, his spirit, his angels, and others. Unlike us, he is not limited. We cannot and do not have a better help, refuge, and strength. Further reading of this chapter and others assures us. He is our refuge and strength, our very present help even when we go through the valley of the shadow of death.

So, is God really your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble? Is he definitely mine? Is he truly ours? Let us examine ourselves. If not, ask him to be. This means denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following him. It means trouble. More than that, however, is the peace and the blessed assurance that God will be our refuge and strength, and our very present help. If he is, then let us continue to rely on him as our refuge and strength, and very present help. There is no one or nothing else. Why wait or waste any more time? Let him be. Amen!