God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Psalm 46:1-3 NASB
“Though the earth should change”… When is God a very present help? Most certainly when everything I’ve ever known, everything that’s familiar and comfortable changes. Life is full of changes, and sometimes those changes come with heartache and pain. In those times we can be sure that God is with us. We may be caught off guard and our world may be rocked by the change, but God is never caught off guard, He is never shaken!
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Psalm 46: 4-7 NASB
“God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved”… Even in the most difficult of circumstances, we can stand strong if God is with us. We can find our stability completely in Him. I’m reminded of His authority as I consider His power to melt the earth with just the sound of His voice! The psalmist refers to God as the “Lord of hosts.” This is a war term that literally means the Lord of the war, or the Lord of the battle. What a comforting thought to know that God has all authority over every battle we face! He is our stronghold, the place we can go to be safe from the attack.
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire. Psalm 46:8-9 NASB
God has the power to break every weapon positioned to harm us! He is the one, and often the only one, who can bring the battle to an end. And since we know He loves us, we trust Him to do so when He decides it is in our best interest. So what can we do when everything changes, the battle is raging, and we are struggling to keep our footing?
“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Psalm 46:10-11 NASB
“Cease striving”… We all “strive” in different ways, but the message hear is to stop running around in every direction trying to fix the problem. Stop devoting every waking moment to thinking about it. “And know that I am God” If we strive for anything, let us strive to focus our thoughts on our God, not our circumstances. If ever we need to quiet ourselves before God, to take time out to consider His power, and His love for us, it’s when our world is falling apart. For a soldier to get a retrieve from the battle, He must retreat to the stronghold. God is our stronghold. So what are some practical ways to do this?
Here are 4 suggestions:
- Take some time to read through specific passages that speak of God’s power and goodness. Focus on scriptures that tell of times rescued His people. If you need help finding those passages, email me and I’d be happy to give you a list.
- Don’t just read, but also quiet yourself before Him in prayer. Use the verses you’ve read and found comfort in as you pray. Base your prayers on the qualities of God you see in His word, focus on those rather than rehashing in prayer the details of everything that’s wrong in your life.
- Fill your ears, and your mind with songs that help you remain focused on God and remind you how much He cares about you. The style of the music isn’t important, it’s the lyrics that matter. Choose whatever style ministers to you the most. Here are a few that I enjoy listening to when I’m struggling through a difficult circumstance. I Can Feel You, I Am Not Alone, Shoulders
- Sometimes it helps to spend some time outside in a quiet place where you are removed from the stress of the situation. If you have the opportunity to spend a few hours on the beach, at a lake, a forest, the mountains, or a city park, do it. Beautiful scenery is a gift from God and spending time enjoying it is a great way to regain perspective.
If you have other suggestions that help you focus your mind on God please share them in the comments section below.