Ever-Present

“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. 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.”- Ps 46:1-5

This verse took on a whole new meaning to me after watching the sunrise in Jacksonville Beach just a few days ago. God is our refuge, and our strength, and an ever-present help in trouble. He is always there, never leaving or forsaking us.

We are all going to face circumstances, seasons and situations that are painful and difficult. We are promised in John 16:33 that, "you will face trouble…”

“…But, fear not for I [Jesus] have overcome the world.” In Ps. 46:1 we are told something very similar--that God is ready to help us in times of trouble. We will have trouble, but he is ever-present. 

Ps. 46:2i says, “though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” it makes me think of heartbreak. When it feels like our worlds are falling apart, when our hearts are broken (for whatever reason) it’s that image of a mountain falling to pieces--something that falls apart in your hearts—heartbreak.

“Though its waters roar and foam and the mountain quake with their surging…” vs.3. How many of us have felt like those mountains who quake from the storms raging around us or even hitting us like a wave would roar and crash into a mountain? I love the (NLV) translation that says in verse 4. “A river brings joy to the city of God…”

In the moment those circumstances feel like they are crashing into you, so-to-speak. You may feel like your heart is breaking like a mountain crumbling into the sea, but we need not fear. Jesus is our refuge and strength! Verses. 4 is a reminder that God is going to bring something good out of whatever we're going through, but also makes me think of the power of prospective! If we will let Him, God will produce joy in us—as only he can. Not only that, but when we remind our souls who is running the show, who it is that dwells in us...what at first seemed like a roaring sea, now feels more like a river. The water didn't go away, but a river is much more peaceful. Our circumstances may not change, but we can have peace and joy in the midst of them. 

It’s interesting that in verse 3. it said the waters roared and foamed and made the mountain quake, then it says, but a river brings joy to the city of God, where the Most High dwells.”

What we sew in tears we will reap with songs of joy. When we face trails of many kinds, consider is pure joy, for they developing perseveres. When you need wisdom, call on the name of Jesus, and ask for it. It will be given to you without finding fault. Like the disciples, we forget that Jesus is in the boat with us. When we remember who holds us in His mighty, righteous, loving right hand, when we remind our heads, hearts and souls that Jesus is our refuge and strength…we need not fear…then what felt like a roaring wave now feels more like a river. The Most High God dwells in you and I! 

This was the verse that got me, as I thought about that morning, watching the sunrise…needing so desperately for God to show me that this was indeed His will! 

 

“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”- Ps. 46:5

Each day, call on the name of Jesus! He is within me, and if you have put your faith in Christ, he is within you too. Because we have the Most High in us, we cannot fall. God will help us at break of day. Each day He gives, His mercies are new, and he will help us.

We can do nothing apart from Christ, but when He dwells in us, when he is within  us....what can stand against us? 

It doesn’t mean that storms won’t come, but we are upheld. In (vs. 1) we were told that God is an EVER-PRESENT help. Then in (vs.5) we are reminded again that he will help us. We are not alone. Regardless of what we are facing or feeling we have One who is our: refuge, strength, and ever-present help. That picture is what I took the other morning. NO FILTER!! Our God is glorious and all-powerful and ever-present as the sunrise at break of day. He will be my help and your help if  we will let him.