God Is Our Refuge

Psalm 46:1-7

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

I love this psalm. In the midst of chaos and looming disaster, the psalmist chooses to fix his eyes on the presence of God and the promise that there is more. This world is not all there is. There is a city of God we can look towards where there is peace and gladness. Yet the contrast here is real. God's people must feel weak, or they would not need His strength. They must have real fears as they witness the events surrounding them. They must be tempted to feel powerless. Yet their hope is in God. In His real presence. In His protection. And this is their peace and hope.

Is it mine? Do I trust God like this in the chaos and storms of my life? Do I fix my eyes on Jesus, remembering His promises and protection? Or do I get swept up in the storm? In my fear? In my feeble efforts? Is Jesus my real refuge and fortress? Is Jesus my hope?

A storm is brewing here at home. A mean, nasty, blizzardy storm full of snow and ice. Lots of snow and lots of ice. But my thoughts are on the storms brewing in Egypt this week. Political storms that are stirring up chaos and confusion and catastrophe. I can't pretend to understand all that is really going on, for I'm not there. But my dear friend's family is there. So this storm seems more real and relevant to me, even thousands of miles away as I sit and wait and watch. And I pray that God would be their refuge and strength during these turbulent days.