Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.”  NKJV

Everyone needs help from time to time and if you have ever been in need of someone coming to your rescue or lending a helping hand and no one showed up you know the despair that can accompany that occurrence.  In fact Proverbs 13:12 declares, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”  If you were hoping for or promised help and it delayed you can easily drift into despair and/or fear.  When help arrives and you find success in that which was before you it is like a fruit bearing tree and your heart soars with newness of hope and life.

The Psalmist declares that our refuge, strength and help is God.  However, he does not just say that God is our help but that God is our PRESENT HELP in time of trouble.  Not hoped for help, maybe help or future help but PRESENT HELP.  He is in the NOW and that NOW HELP banishes fear because of who He is and what He can do.  The picture drawn is that even if there is massive earthquake and overflowing floods FEAR is banished.  This is expanded in other areas where we know that NOTHING can separate us from God’s Love and that no matter what we encounter He is a PRESENT HELP in our time of trouble or need.

FEAR, the Bible tells us, has torment and can be paralytic causing us to hesitate and run for cover in hiding rather than respond to the present situation or need.  Some try to ignore problems like the driver ignoring the warning light on the dash of their automobile of taking a hammer and smashing the warning light thinking that if you don’t know it is not a problem.  It is a problem and the problem solver is with us.

He is our refuge, that place of safety or the pavilion tent in the midst of the battle where we can go in to rest and receive refreshing.  He is our strength as the Bible declares “our strength is made perfect in weakness” because we cease to trust the arm of flesh and trust the arm of God.  Everything around us can crumble and be shaken but if we are under the shelter of His arms we have nothing to fear because He is our refuge and our strength.  If God is for us who can be against us.  If God is for us there is no power to compete or compare with His power.

He is our PRESENT HELP so instead of “wishing and hoping” let us begin to “trust and believe” that He said what He meant and meant what He said.  He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us.  He is able to keep that which we have committed to him against that day.  He is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent.  He is NOW!  He is HERE! 

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!