Psalm 46

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalm 46:1

"'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."  Psalm 46:10-11

In life we face many challenges and problems and sometimes deep trials, but God has promised us in Psalm 46:1 to be "our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." He will be my "refuge and strength" and your "refuge and strength."  We can have fearless trust in Him no matter what upheavals are occurring in our lives and no matter what catastrophic events are happening all around us!   Psalm 42:2-3 reminds us that we need not feat even if "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."

We can trust the Lord even if all we hold dear is taken from us, because He is our powerful "refuge and strength!"  He is our constant help and strength in all kinds of problems and in the deepest of trials!  He gives us just what we need of His strength day by day and moment by moment.  The Lord has been our help in the past, and He will be our help and strength in the future!  When we can't see our way out of a problem situation in our lives, the Lord already has a plan in place for our lives!  We can trust Him.  His will and timing are always best.

Sometimes the Lord allows trials in our lives to get our attention and to help us grow spiritually. Sometimes trials are given to us to help us grow more dependent on the Lord and to help us grow in our love for Him.  Even in trials the Lord is smiling down on us, protecting us, and seeing us to victory!  He sustains us, protects us, and pours His blessings on us sometimes especially in difficult times in our lives,  Even in the difficult times in our lives we can be full of the Lord's joy, because no ultimate spiritual harm will ever come to a child of God!

Psalm 46:4 reminds us that our Lord is the "Most High" who dwells within us!  Nations rise and fall because of the Lord's power and control.  This same powerful God is our fortress and our protection! So all we have to do is rest in His care and not fear.  He says to us in Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God."  The Almighty Lord of the universe is with us eternally!

We must put aside the voices of the world and of self-reliance, and we must trust in Him to meet our every need.  We must trust the Lord to lead us through even very difficult times.  We need to grow in our love for Him.  We need to truly rest in the Lord and listen for His still small voice of direction for our lives!  The longer this devotional writer walks with the Lord the more she sees His faithfulness in her life.  His grace is always sufficient.  His victory is always sure, and His promises are always reliable!