God is our refuge and strength, 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. Selah Psalms 46:1-3 (NIV)
The God of Jacob is our fortress, our very preset help in our times of trouble. He can calm “the raging seas” of our hearts and minds and grant us a peace that passes all understanding - no matter how hard the wind may blow. Believers discover both safety and courage under His mighty, all sufficient wings. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. As we trust in Him, leaning not on our own understanding, acknowledging Him in all our ways – He will make our paths straight.
God is also our refuge and strength – and a shelter when the earth beneath us shakes and quakes. He is our firm foundation. And our safety is found in His all powerful hands. We are not to fear when we face trials and tribulations. These occur so that we will not depend upon the arm of man – as mere flesh most often comes up wanting – rather trusting in Him Who is ever present to help us in all our troubles and in all our needs.
In our times of unknown, despair, and great afflictions – when our worlds are turned upside down and topsy-turvy - we must learn to cast our anchor’s upward and rest secure in Him. Our trust in the Lord is our greatest defense as we rely upon His all-powerful strength. He knows we are weak and subject to slips, stumbles and falls. He carefully measures our trials, afflictions and tribulations – allowing only what will enable and strengthen us in our paths to conform us to the image of His Son. God desires for us to look like Jesus and He uses all He allows toward this great goal. The fires of affliction for the saints are not necessarily punishment tools rather conformation to Christ tools as Paul writes in Philippians 2:3-11 (NIV): “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Man abases and humbles himself and God exalts. In doing so, we shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the Word of life.
“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. Selah Come and see the works of the LORD, 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.
‘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. Selah” Psalms 46:4-11 (NIV)