“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”- Psalm 46:1
Good morning! Aah, awake early…”trouble” on my mind, cant go back to sleep. What to do? Tried praying… seems the stress sits and rests like an Irish foggy morning where the dew blankets and covers the fields with its thick mist resting upon the fields,like a thick cloud. I read a bit… finally relief begins to lift the “clouds,”of despair, anxiety as the fight for my thought life and faith rages. What is the cause? The trouble has not lifted but the Holy Spirit is enabling me to see the LORD and relate to the LORD in this time of trouble and my heart and mind begin to rest!
KNOW-“GOD IS…”
In between a rock and a hard place, I find myself- again! Such is the word “trouble”that is used- to be in a tight squeeze, confining place. Know God is. He exists eternally, never having waned in Power, presence, authority, compassion, wisdom. He is as He has been- constant, Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign- doing as He pleases, when He pleases, how He pleases, where He pleases and always doing right.{Psalm 135:6} He is neither indifferent, impotent or distant to my or your cares, burdens and sorrows. But in His wisdom, love and care He is intimately and actively involved- “God is”– He exists not as a spectator or vindictive towards you or me but a Help in time of trouble. He is a burden bearer, a comforter, a Friend and LORD over all troubles.
“TROUBLES AND STORMS IN LIFE.”
George Mueller, while traveling from England to Canada by ship was caught in a dense fog and the captain told him they would be delayed and would not arrive in Canada in time for Mr Mueller’s meetings. Mueller invited the captain and together they went below deck and Mueller asked God to lift the fog if it would please Him- when they went back on deck the fog had lifted to the captain’s amazement! Mueller said, “My eye was not on the density of the fog but on the Living God.” Jehosaphat gathered the people to him in a time of trouble as the enemy was about to invade and said “LORD we don’t know what to do but our eye is upon You.”- 2 Chronicles 20. It was in a time of trouble that caused him and the people to recognize their vulnerability, inability but dependability upon God and they turned to Him- such is faith! Such is some of the goodness that can come to see difficult and tight places- can drive us to Him! Tough times are but opportunities to KNOW Him and SEE Him act! To some they see Him Act in deliverance, to others like Habakkuk they see troubles coming yet have determined,”Even though…” provision should be removed- “I will rejoice in the Lord,”-“I will be joyful in God my Savior.The Sovereign Lord is my strength;”-Hab 3:18-19. “I will Praise – Him…trust Him..” God would be sufficient to Him in times of “trouble.” Troubles would not deter him from trusting and praising the LORD. Times of trouble afford us the opportunities to honor, trust Him independent of “favorable” circumstances. God is worthy, for “GOD IS…” He exists, I am created to praise and trust Him- And so I talk and walk my mind through the truth- again!
“GOD IS…” – present tense- with all His resources and ability ,“a very present help in time of trouble. “ Lift your eyes a little higher and fix them upon Him. He alone is the ultimate Helper, “Call” on Him in your day of trouble- He will help. Sometimes it is deliverance from the troubles, Sometimes it is grace to walk with Him through the troubles. But speak the truth to yourself, “God is– a very present help – in time- of trouble.” He is nearer than your breath, more conscious of your need before it ever came to you- and His assurance is- “He is.”- your “help”-for this time of need. Praise HIM for Who He is…Praise Him for His nearness-whether you “feel” His presence or not. Praise Him because He is worthy, because He cares. He is able to sustain, deliver, He is your Present Help in such a time, perplexing, painful, difficult time as this. “God is…” a very help in time of need. The blessing of the time of troubles? We can discover “God is”– to us- our Help to carry, sustain, deliver, comfort us in such times. We get to know -God Who -is, and testify of Him to others of the God who is- “in times of trouble- a very present Help.”
And perhaps like me this day, you too, will need to SPEAK truth to yourself…“why cast down O my soul, put your hope in God…” God IS of reality- so He is to you “a very present Help in time of need.”– PRAISE HIM!
As God was to the Psalmist who penned these words, so long ago, “God is”… to you- “a very present help,”- in times of trouble!
In between a tight place, between a rock and a hard place. You are not alone.
No rock and hard place can somehow squeeze Him out from helping you, or being with you!
That is glorious truth to comfort your heart, to commune with Him who empathizes with you. “God is a very present help in times of trouble!”
GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH…
“REFUGE.” In the Old Testament, God in His grace and mercy had set up six cities where if someone committed a serious crime, if he killed someone by accident and could get to one of these designated cities he would be safe from the avengers. He was safe in the designated Place of Refuge! But God in this passage does not say we have to get to a place for refuge but to Him- The Person- He Himself is our “refuge.” Our “soul” is safe with Him. -{Read 1 Peter 1:5}.
God is your “STRENGTH,” in times of trouble. Strength to endure. Strength to trust. Strength to Hope in God. Strength to continue on walking in obedience out of love for Him. Strength to “do the next thing.” Strength to rest in the promise that, “GOD IS- OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH- A VERY PRESENT, EVER PRESENT- HELP- IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!”
“How good is the God we adore, our faithful, unchanging Friend, His love is as Great as His power and knows neither measure nor end.”
The “troubles” I awoke with still exist, but they do not have the same power over me- For HE HAS HELPED me – for I have experienced His “help” since I began to write- He has helped my heart to”rest” and has given it a song! In His hands- even “troubles” can be used for “good!” But, hadn’t He already promised me and you that! -{Read Romans 8:28}. God is MY present help in times of trouble. God is YOURS too…look to Him, rest in Him. THINK on Him. TRUST Him. REST in Him! Thank Him!
PERSONALIZE THE VERSE
“God IS…
God is MY REFUGE…
God is MY…STRENGTH…
God is MY…ever present HELP, in times of trouble!
“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before him, His glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore Him: the Lord is his Name!
Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness,
high on his heart He will bear it for thee,
and comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.
Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness
of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine;
for truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
these are the offerings to lay on his shrine.
These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
He will accept for the Name that is dear;
mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
trust for our trembling and hope for our fear.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him: the Lord is his Name!” –
Words: John Samuel Bewley Monsell, 1863