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)
Fear is common to us all. Perhaps the greatest of our fears is the fear of the unknown. We tend to create in our minds scenarios of things in the shadows or under the bed; however, the psalmist writes about the worse possible scenario that would stir up fear in the heart of the bravest man or woman – the earth crumbling, the mountains tumbling, and the oceans roaring and foaming. There’s just no where to go to be safe! Well, there is one place to go — to the Lord.
Regardless of how bad things get, I do not need to fear. Why? First, because God is my refuge. A refuge is a place to which we can escape and find security. In this instance, it is not a place but a person. I run to God and hide myself in Him. I trust Him to shield me and protect me. As a child runs into her mother’s arms, we can run into the arms of God.
Second, I do not need to fear because God is my strength. He may not shield me from every single problem or pain, but He will strengthen me in the midst of them. The Apostle Paul discovered that God did not always fix his problems, but He did provide grace and strength to endure them (2 Cor 12:9). The Lord will do the same for you!
Finally, I need not fear because God is my ever-present help in times of trouble. I always wanted to be available to my children to help them when they needed it, but I discovered that I am limited by both time and space. The good news is that God does not have those limits. He is always present with you. There is never a time when He is distracted or missing in action. You can whisper, “Lord, help” and know that He hears you.
What is stirring the fear within you? Whether real or potential, the answer to your fear is faith in God. Trust Him. He is your Refuge, your Strength, your Ever-present Help in time of trouble.
Be Transformed 