How Can I Be Confident in Times of Distress?
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though 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. Psalm 46:1-3
What are we to do when an enemy is about to overpower us and everything looks stacked against us? This is the problem that Hezekiah had as the Assyrian army marched toward Jerusalem. As the Assyrians marched southward through Syria and Israel, fields ripe with fruit, green with vegetation, and gold with grain lay before them; behind them they left the land bare, trodden down, and burned. Before them were cities, strong and sturdy; behind them they left only the blackened smoke of ruins. As they marched onward to Jerusalem, Hezekiah was biting his fingernails. But with his spirits lifted by the messages of the prophet Isaiah, Hezekiah refused to comply with the Assyrians’ demand. God would be his refuge, which means “a place of shelter.”
This psalm teaches us three things. First, when we are in a treacherous place, we need a superior shelter. Many places that are more susceptible to windstorms will have storm cellars. These are dug in the ground for protection from the storm. As a shelter it is superior to a normal residence. In the perilous circumstances of our life, we need superior protection. No wonder the psalmist said, “God is our refuge.”
Second, when we are in a tight place, we need a strong shelter. God is not only our refuge but also our “strength, a very present help [not a distant help!] in trouble.” The word trouble here refers to a tight place. The tight places we find ourselves in can become a breeding ground for God’s strength to be demonstrated. Just ask the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace; they knew something about a tight place (Daniel 3)!
Third, when we are in a threatened place, we need a secure shelter. The hymn writer declared, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing”; therefore, there is nothing to fear! The Enemy will send his threats, but in Christ, our refuge is superior, strong, and secure!
We thank You, oh Lord, for You turn our distress into delight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Arden Taylor, Gray, TN