Confidence in God

Write From My Heart / January 7, 2021 / Confidence in God

Psalm 46:1-11 (NIV)     [1-3] 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.  [4-7] 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. [8-11] 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.

            In the first section of Psalm 46, we are comforted by the reminder that God is our refuge. He is the source in which we find comfort and strength. What we might overlook in this passage is the fact that God alone is our refuge, not God plus something else. He is all that we need and he is sufficient to handle any situation. Additionally, God is our “ever present help,” meaning that he is always near to us. I’ve often said God is never more than a prayer away; stated positively, God is always as close as a prayer. We are confident God is with us; therefore, we will not fear.

            In the second section we understand the psalmist was referencing Jerusalem, often called  the city of God in Old Testament passages. However, it might be a glimpse of God’s future Kingdom. I am reminded that earthly kingdoms and nations may come and go, rise and fall, flourish or fail. However Almighty God brought the earth into creation with his spoken word, and because of its current corrupted state, he will destroy it by his spoken word before making it new again. On that day of judgement, the earth and the very elements will melt with fervent heat (1 Peter 3:12). Yet he remains the LORD Almighty, and he is with us. God is our source of hope.

            Finally, as we look into the last section of this psalm, we catch a glimpse of God’s ultimate plan and purpose. We must remember that the world and all its contents including plants, animals, and humans were created for the purpose of bringing honor and glory to Creator God. When man took his eyes off the Creator to follow that which was created, the world and all its contents became forever marred. That is our current state—a world and all its contents marred by sin. I always viewed the phrase “Be still and know that I am God,” to be peaceful and spoken in a quiet whispering voice. Today, I see it more as a stern rebuke; “Quiet!” “Be still!” “Enough!” “Silence!” God is proclaiming his purpose. He will be exalted among all peoples, nations, and the whole earth! What a blessing to know we have the confidence that this same Almighty God is the ONE who comforts us, strengthens us, and provides shelter in the midst of any situation.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive us when we falter. Thank you for the confidence we have when we place our trust in you, for you are with us through each day.

            In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.