Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”
In this life the Children of God are certain to have troubles. On the night before He was crucified, the Lord told His Apostles, “… In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Peter tells us, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (I Peter 4:12). Therefore, we must know of certainty that while we live, we will have troubles and we shouldn’t be surprised when we have them. This world is not Paradise! There is much evil in this world. And evil will plague us as long as we are in the world. But the good news is, the Lord has “overcome the world”; that is, He has power over both our trouble and the cause of our trouble. But the good news is, “God is our refuge”; that is, when the storms of trouble rage against us, we can flee to God for “refuge” till the storm is passed. But the good news is, “God is our … strength”; that is, when we are so pressed down and weary and discouraged that we have no physical or mental strength to go on, then “God is our … strength” by which we can stand upright in the face of the trouble and put one foot ahead of the other, go about our duties, and encourage others. But the good news is, “God is … a very present help in trouble”; that is, He is not far away from us, He is right there in the storm with us to “help” us when we cannot help ourselves. But the good news is, when the troubles are dark and doleful, “God is … a very present help in trouble”; that is, he is right there to shine His Light upon the way through the trouble. Keep in mind that the Lord usually only illuminates the portion of the way that we are presently on, not the whole way at once. Our duty is to trust the Lord and faithfully follow Him even if we cannot see the resolution while we are in the midst of the storm. But the good news is, when the troubles press us beyond our ability to cope, then we should stop and prayerfully look up, there our faith’s eyes will see our Lord Who is “very present” to “help” us! “Therefore will not we fear” no matter how ominous our trouble may be.