Reflections on Psalm 46:1-2: God is

I was reading the 12/30/13 entry on a blog I follow, http://thesusanblog.com, in which Susan shares what she took away from a sermon by her pastor, Philip De Courcy; the sermon focused  on Psalm 46.

I began reading the psalm, which she had included in its entirety.  I got to the first phrase in verse 2 and was transfixed by the truth and power of what I was reading, and by its implications for my life.

“God is our refuge and strength.” Not was or will be. He is. Right now. Every moment. I do not need to seek refuge and try to muster strength. God is my refuge and God is strength.  Light bulb turning on. A familiar passage of Scripture had now become Rhema to me. Okay.

Next phrase: “A very present help in trouble.” Does not matter if I cannot sense His presence. Does not matter if the voice of my Enemy and his minstrels doubt, insecurity, shame, uncertainty, are whispering in synchrony, “See, God does not love you or He will never let this happen. You deserve the trouble you’re facing. God has left you!” Not true. “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” For these reasons, “Therefore we will not fear.”

I mentally inserted a period and a Selah  here because I had to pause, reflect on, digest these truths.  “God is.” He exists. He is I AM. God, I AM, the self-existing One, all powerful, Almighty, is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” What reason do I have to fear?  The physical earth or my personal world is shaking? The physical mountains or the things or people I believed would always be there have been removed or are violently shaking? Physical waters as in tsunamis or floods or circumstances that feel like tsunamis or rushing floods? Yes. Even in the face of all of this, when I believe and hold on to the truth that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” I will not fear, “Even thought the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah.” Selah. Indeed.

I recognized that these are not verses to be rushed through but ones that warrant focused meditation, until its truths are absorbed into the fiber of our beings. Living free from fear and anxiety that torment our minds, disrupt our sleep, and adversely impact our health, is possible if I believe Him, when I believe what He said, “I am your refuge and strength. I am a very present help in trouble.” These are the reasons to not be afraid regardless of what is happening in, to and around me. Selah.

P.S. The entire psalm merits reflection. I invite you to read it. Only He knows what 2014 holds for all of us but in Psalm 46, He provides powerful reminders of Who He is and the assurance of His constant presence with us.

P.S.2. I did eventually read Susan’s entire post but it took a while.:-)