Christian blog posts

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalms 46:1-3

The word refuge means a shelter, hope, trust. It speaks of a place of safety. During Bible times, when someone committed manslaughter he could flee to a city of refuge to escape the avenger. Yes, trouble comes into all of our lives, but we can seek refuge in the Lord. He protects us in times of trouble. Proverbs 18:10 says,” The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. This idea is expressed many times in the Bible. David always found refuge in the Lord when his enemies sought his life. Saul pursued David for many years, yet God always protected him. David knew that the Lord was watching over him.Psalm 18:2-3: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 

Psalm 46 is a strong biblical passage that reminds us that even in the face of trouble, God is our refuge and strength.”Infact the bible doesn’t talk about the absence of calamity, but God promises his presence in trying times. For Kenyans and me in Particular, August 7th 1998 rings in my mind or let me say our minds, as if it happened yesterday. For the Americans, September 11 was not the first, and sadly it will not be the last time we will see inhuman acts, from those walking in a human body like us. The goodness of all this is, we can always depend on God’s presence when tragedy strikes.” One Jew, When facing hard times and facing dearth daily, in concentration camps in Germany, wrote on the walls inside the Auschwitz Concentration Camp: ”I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in Love, even when I alone. I believe in God, even when he is silent. Even in the midst of tragic circumstance God is still present, even when it’s hard to see or perceive him.”

The word strength means power, might, boldness, to be mighty. When trials and trouble come, our strength is drained from us. Yet at these times God is able to strengthen us and help us to stand. We only need to ask Him for strength.

Isaiah 40:28-31: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

It doesn’t matter how strong or weak we are, we all need God’s strength. Only He can sustain us in the trials of life! Psalm 73:25-26: Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. One time, David returned to Ziglag with his men and found it burned down and their families carried away as captives. What did he do? His men blamed him for it all. 1 Samuel 30:6 tells us: Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. When trials come do we strengthen ourselves in the Lord? Or do we try and make it on our own? God is always ready to strengthen us.

The third provision that God gives to His people is help. The word help means to assist. God provides refuge and strength to His people. But He also helps us in our trials. What’s more He doesn’t do this from a distance. He is right there with us to help us in our trials. Hebrews 13:5-6: For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me? God doesn’t expect us to make it on our own. In fact, He knows that we can’t. It’s only our pride and fear that keep us from seeking His help.

Having hope of a better tomorrow is the oil that keeps you functioning, even when everything seems dead around you. Psalm 46 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The reality is that there will be difficult times, but God promises to be our refuge. When the walls of your life are shaken, it does not mean God has not failed you and me. He has promised to be with us in the middle of tragedy. We sometimes think that when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances that God has abandoned us, but this is not the case.” The Song God Leads His Dear Children Along.” was written by “George Young” after his home was burned to the ground:  He says in the song, ““Some through the water, something through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood. Some through great sorrow, but God gives us a song in the night season and all the day long.”

To magnify this point further, Isaiah the Prophet says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.—–Remember you’re passing Through—-Never stop in the furnace-keep going because light is always at the end of the tunnel.

In light of God’s provision how should we respond to uncertainty, trials and conflict or even Covid and its variants, including Omicron? We should respond in faith, not in fear. If God is our refuge, strength and help shouldn’t we trust Him to take care of us? If calamity takes place on the earth, hasn’t God caused it or allowed it to happen? Therefore, we must respond in faith when turmoil comes into our lives. This is exactly what Job did when wave after wave of calamity broke upon him. He trusted in God’s goodness. He knew that the Lord would not let him down. The Psalmist said that even if the world was turned upside down he knew that God would take care of him.

When life becomes uncertain what do you do? What do I do? David found the help that he needed from the Lord. Do you run to the Lord when troubles come? You should!

When world events threaten to change our lives how do we handle it? Do we have a shelter for life’s storms? Is the Lord our refuge? Does He give us strength to stand? Or do we try and make it on your own? When your world is turned upside down how do you respond, with fear or with faith? God bless you