God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Psalm 46: 5 (NIV)
Scripture: Psalm 46
When trials come, it is easy to question where God is. Psalm 46 is a comforting psalm. This devotion looks at God as our fortress and joy. He is all-powerful.
Cliff Notes
- God is our refuge from whatever we are dealing with at the time.
- When our relationship with God is as it should be, things are much more tranquil.
- God’s spoken word is powerful.
- God wants us to “be still and know that I am God …” (Ps. 46: 10 RSV).
The first time I read Psalm 46: 5, I thought, “Excuse me. I think I fell. Where were You?” Isn’t at easy to think when we’ve turned around and there is this huge season of strife that we’ve entered?
I was in a different spot than Jerusalem was at the time this song was written. I read that the city had been delivered from one of the opposing armies. It is a song of celebration.
This is a really nice Psalm, though, whatever season of trial we are in. It gives us a lot of assurance when things are really hairy. Things may be bad, but they are going to get better. Let’s read through the entire Psalm.
God Is Our Fortress
“God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble. And so, we won’t be afraid! Let the earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea. Let the ocean roar and foam, and its raging waves shake the mountains” (Ps. 46: 1-3 NLT).
I love how this Psalm starts out with assurance. Let the rough patches come. Let the testing come. Doesn’t matter what the circumstances are.
It doesn’t matter what is kicked up. From the imagery, it seems like whatever is kicking them up is powerful.
Earth, mountains, oceans — whatever they represent in our lives — let them shake, rattle, and roll. God has this.
God is our refuge. He is there in whatever season we are in at the time. Before it even starts, He is there. When it is at its worst, He is there. When we’ve made it through the other side and are exhausted, He is there.
To read How Should We Give Thanks to God?, click the button below.
Twenty-four/seven. Three hundred sixty-five days a year. God is there.
God is our refuge from whatever we are dealing with at the time. Whether is be Satan trying to lead us astray, whether it is the world calling us, whether we just want something we shouldn’t, God is there.
So, we don’t need to fear. The God who created the Earth, mountains, and oceans still controls them. He controls all that happens on this Earth. He doesn’t always make things happen, but He allows things to happen.
Faith has to overcome the fear. We have to put our faith in the Creator. He’s got this.
God Is Our Joy
“A river and its streams bring joy to the city, which is the sacred home of God Most High. God is in that city, and it won’t be shaken. He will help it at dawn” (Ps. 46: 4-5 NLT).
The scene changes. Instead of the ocean waves against the cliffs, we see a nice calm river. This represents the church.
When our relationship with God is as it should be, things are much more tranquil. We are satisfied.
True, we need to learn from the storms. We just have to not let them swamp us. God won’t be shaken.
We have to remember, even when the battles we fight are over, God is there, too. We said whatever season.
Look what verse 5 says in a different translations. “God is in the midst of her …” (Ps. 46: 5 ESV). “God is within her …” (Pa. 46: 5 HCSB). Where is God — in our very being.
We talked once about God’s peace, mercy, and love being at our center. Those three prongs make a strong foundation.
That peace is inside us when the Earth is shaking, mountains are crumbling, and oceans are crashing. God is always with us.
Think about the river for a second. It symbolizes provision, not only water, but also food.
I loved going fishing for catfish. We would leave the house around midnight and fish for a couple of hours. Yes, I put the worm on myself. No, I always had problems getting the fish off the hook (I tried).
But the river provides more than just food and sustenance. We can also clean off and cool off in the river. We can do a lot of fun things on the river: swimming, boating, floating, kayaking.
This is one way that God provides joy. He provides rest.
God Is All-Powerful
“Nations rage! Kingdoms fall! But at the voice of God the earth itself melts. The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress” (Ps. 46: 6-7 NLT).Bible Verse
Did you see it? “… But at the voice of God the earth itself melts” (Ps. 46: 6 NLT). And who was Earth created? “And God said …” What did Mark 4: 39 say, “Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm” (CEV).
One of my ladies brought up the point that the winds quieted down because they recognized the voice of their Maker. Wouldn’t the Earth obey its Maker’s voice and melt?
That gives me chills. Think how powerful just God’s spoken word is.
Just think what else God has spoken. “Each time he [God] said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (II Cor. 12: 9 NLT).
He said. God said so. So, we have all the grace we need — even when we feel the weakest. God is our fortress, He has the power, and He will provide for us.
God Is Calm
“Come! See the fearsome things the Lord has done on earth. God brings wars to an end all over the world. He breaks the arrows, shatters the spears, and burns the shields. Our God says, ‘Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me.’ The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress” (Ps. 46: 8-11 NLT).
I’m sorry. That cracked me up. “… Calm down …” (Ps. 46: 10 NLT). My first thought was the keep calm memes.
My second was, do you really calm someone down by telling them to calm down? I would say that it depends on how you say it.
If I think you are invalidating my feelings by not letting me react as I think warranted, I will not calm down. If I think you are trying to assure me everything is okay, I will attempt to calm down.
This is the way I am used to seeing the verse: “Be still, and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!” (Ps. 46:10 RSV). I like that.
Be still. Don’t think we have to work to make things better.
Be still. The war is over, and now is the time to recharge in God’s peace.
Be still. The future is secure.
Know. God is an all-powerful, ever-present, and ever-loving God.
But what if those words are being uttered to Satan? Can’t you hear God saying, “Be still and know I am God. Be still and know I have [put your name here] in the palm of my hand. Be still and know that I am providing for and protecting [put your name here]. Be still and know that I have given [put your name here] my peace.”
Oh, man. That is our God.
Oh, God. We are just brought to our knees when we see Your love for us. We are so unworthy. But You have sent Your Son to pay the price to make us worthy. We will be still. We can’t work to make things better. We will be still. The war is over, and now is the time to recharge in Your peace. We will be still. The future is secure in You. We know. You are the all-powerful, ever-present, and ever-loving God. Amen.
What do you think? Think of the time when you were most battered by trials. What was keeping you from feeling God’s peace? Now that the season of trial has past (and hopefully it has), what can you use as a prompt to remind you of God’s peace the next time trials come?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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