Dave’s Monday Blast – April 6, 2020
In the midst of enduring circumstances that stray outside the boundaries of all we consider normal, do you find yourself wondering when life will return to its normal rhythm? I must confess that in my carnal moments I idolize all that makes me comfortable. If you flesh that out, it means that anything outside of the daily expected norm can really get me going to bad places.
Do you ever wonder what God considers normal? Psalm 46 provides us with some valuable insight into what we can expect of and from our God. Interestingly enough one of His key attributes is that He is immutable; God is unchanging in his character, will and covenant promises. I love this because when everything around us is chaotic, unexpected and unpredictable, we can find a safe port in the storm. Just picture our Savior standing in the bow of the boat in the midst of the storm speaking the words “peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). He is the one thing we can rely upon.
God longs for us to understand that we can ALWAYS rely on Him. Martin Luther wrote A Mighty Fortress is Our God based upon Psalm 46. In the midst of every storm consider…
1. Run to God: The psalmist announces:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (v. 1). A “refuge” is a place where we go to escape, to be sheltered and safe. But we must choose to go there. If we think we can face the storm unaided, a refuge cannot help us.
Pastor Jim Denison writes: “So go to God every time fear finds you. The Hebrew word for refuge is literally translated, “a place to which we flee.” Don’t walk…RUN! Flee to your Father’s help, power, love, and grace. Seek and trust the strength He offers.
2. Refuse to yield to fear: The psalmist continues: “Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the “heart of the sea” (v. 2). We can only refuse our fears after we have gone to God (cf. 2 Timothy 1:7).
Denison continues: “We cannot prevent the emotion of fear, but we can refuse to yield to it. We can name it and then take it specifically and immediately to God in prayer. We can say, “Lord, I am afraid for my job” or “my health” or “my family.” And we can ask Him for the courage to trust our fear to Him.”
3. Rest in faith: The psalm quotes our Lord: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (v. 10) One day these days will be gone. One day there will a new heaven and a new earth with no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:1-4).
Until that day, we can know that “the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:11). No matter where we go, we go with God. That’s why our Father says we can “be still” in the knowledge that “I am God” (v. 10). Your Father is God. You can run to Him, bring your fears to him, and rest in Him today.
