Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble.  ² For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, ³ when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea.”

In Psalm 46:1-3, something encouraging exploded in my heart: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

The word ‘Trouble’ in Hebrew means to be restricted or tied up in a narrow, cramped place.  Most of us are familiar with that address.   You’ve heard the saying, “Between a rock and a hard place.”  That applies to life and is the subject of Psalm 46.

The Psalmist identified several places or conditions in which God desires to replace Stress with His Perfect Peace.

• Natural Calamities – – Psalm 46:1-3.  When those come, the natural reaction is Fear, but for the one Trusting in God, the reaction is, or will become, “I Will Not Fear!” 
• Civil Disturbance – – Psalm 46:4-7.  The city was under attack, and the natural reaction was PANIC, but for the one Trusting in God, the reaction is or will become, “GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER; SHE WILL NOT BE MOVED.”
• Post Battle Fatigue – – Psalm 46:8-11.  At that moment when it would be easy to give up or go into hiding, the attitude of the person Trusting in God is to declare that we will “cease striving and know that God is God so.”    Therefore, “I Will Not Strive.”

God is our “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” or He desires to be.  The question is, “Is He?”   Is He to us!   The Bible offers numerous promises to encourage us.  Isaiah 41:10; 2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9; Psalm 27:1; 10.    The Old Gospel Hymn, “I Shall Not Be Moved,” can be a powerful testimony or an admission of resistance to God.  

The late Elvis Presley made the song “All Shook Up” a popular hit.   Elvis was born dirt-poor in a small Mississippi town.  He had little encouragement and almost no marketable skills.  At eighteen, earning $14 per week as a truck driver, he made a recording on a lark and became the highest-paid male entertainer in America.  Shortly before Elvis died, he said, “I would give a million dollars for one week of normal life and peace.”   The only cure for stress is God!

In Psalm 46:10, the Psalmist declared, “Cease Striving and know that I am God!”   The word “cease” means “relax.”   Stress will ultimately prevail unless we learn how to “cast all our care on the Lord.”

Several things stood out as I read this Psalm:

• God’s Strength Is Immediately Available.
• God’s Power Is Overpowering.
• God’s Power Is Not Dependent on Our Ability.

We are weak, but He is Strong, and His strength becomes our strength when we acknowledge our weakness and our need for Him.   No matter what you are facing – God is still God!   No matter how dark the night is – God is Still Light!    He is the same past, present, and future!   We can trust Him!   

Make this declaration – “Stress, you are not welcome here!”   Have a fantastic day!