Devotional Thoughts on Psalm 46 and God’s Presence in Our Lives
“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” (Psalm 46:1-3).
If I saw the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, and if I saw its waters roar and foam as the mountains themselves quaked with the surging of the sea . . . it’s pretty safe to say I’d be terrified.
At the very least, I think I’d move someplace farther away from such environmental catastrophes.
That approach might work for natural disasters (to an extent), but we can’t avoid disaster altogether.
We wrestle daily with troubles, such as health challenges, money trouble, work problems, strained relationships, tension in our world, and spiritual struggles—you name it.
As we face those very real problems, doubt, anxiety, stress, and fear try to worm their way into our hearts. And the whispered lies of the devil start to eat away at our mental defenses, the walls we’ve built to guard ourselves in such times.
Where is God in all of this? Why is he allowing you to face such troubles? Doesn’t he love you? Doesn’t he care about you?
When we look at the world around us, it’s no wonder that so many people are terrified. As you look at what’s going on in your life, maybe there are times when you find yourself terrified too.
In those moments, focus on these words from the psalm quoted above, an irrefutable truth that we know by faith alone: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Where is God in the troubles you face? He’s right by your side, ever-present. Always.
Why is God allowing you to face such troubles? He doesn’t always give a definite answer in his Word. But what God does promise is that he is using all things—both good and bad—for your spiritual good.
Doesn’t God love you? Doesn’t he care about you? Look at what God declares in his Word and sacraments. See your Savior Jesus and what he has done to rescue you from sin, death, and the devil. See how he lived a perfect life in your place. See the cross where he bled and died in payment for your sins—including your fears, your doubts, your worries, and your anxieties. See the empty tomb where his body once lay but no longer, because Jesus lives. And because he lives, you will too—both now and forever in heaven.
Time and time again in his Word and sacraments, God assures you that he loves you with an everlasting love. Your sins are forgiven. Heaven is yours.
Dear Christian, no matter what troubles you face, God is with you. Look to him. Listen to his Word. Focus on his unbreakable promises.
And the peace that only God can give drives out fear, because he is your refuge and strength.
For Further Reading: An Ever-Present Help in Trouble
An Ever-Present Help in Trouble contains 40 brief devotions filled with gospel comfort. They share God’s love and providence, reminding you of God’s promises of strength and deliverance. The book also features helpful prayers asking for God’s help in various times of trouble and disaster.
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Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House and a 2023 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation with his family.
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