Refuge, Strength, Present Help!

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

I am looking at another birthday soon, The older I get, the more I realize how much I need a place to seek refuge to clear my mind, to slow me down a bit, and place to go to for renewal. I know my strength is no where near the level I once had, yet it seems like I can accomplish a bit more, my strength is fragile and slips away very fast. I realize how close the adversary is, he doggedly stalks my walk, waiting for me to fail. Trouble is always just around the corner waiting for me to stumble into it. I need help! This is what the Psalmist was praising the Lord for! We should dive in and see the facts up-close.

God is our refuge and strength,

Refuge: a shelter or protection from danger or trouble. My grandmother used the old saying; "when it rains it pours." when trouble comes our way it seem like it rains down upon us in sheet after sheet, flooding our life, wrecking all our plans. That is when the Lord stretches out His arms, becoming the shelter to protect us from any danger and trouble the looms over us.

Refuge: anything to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape. As I work with the soldiers in basic traning, the one complaint that stands out is they feel like they have no one that will listen to them and provide recourse to aid them in completing basic training. They are seeking aid and most want some relief. When no one else will give us any recourse, aid, or escape, the Lord wants to be the source of all we need.

Strength; bodily, or muscular power, mental power, firmness, or courage. We are born to die, so our bodily, and muscular strength will fade. Mental power, firmness and our courage will diminish as we age. When we are at our weakest, God is strongest. God becomes and replaces all our strength.

Strength: something or someone that gives one strength or is a source of power or encouragement; sustenance: I am glad that I was let in on the secret that God is my strength. He in fact gives me strength. He is my source of power. He is my encouragement. He sustains me daily!!! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!!

A very present help in trouble.

When trouble comes our way we all want instant help! The problem is, we are not promised instant help we are promised "a very present help" I believe that this is yet another time we are promised that the Lord is always with His children. His promise to never leave nor forsake us, is again given to comfort our soul. I have had this almost unexplainable promise manifested in my own troubles. God has been there with me every step of the way. He is always present in my life as we make our way through the troubling times in my life. I am reminded of these words of a great hymn: "Jesus Led me all the way"


Some day life’s journey will be o’er
And I shall reach that distant shore,
I’ll sing while ent’ring Heaven’s door
“Jesus led me all the way.”

If God should let me there review
The winding paths of earth I knew,
It would be proven clear and true
Jesus led me all the way.

And hitherto my Lord has led,
Today He guides each step I tread,
And soon in Heav’n it will be said
Jesus led me all the way.

Jesus led me all the way,
Led me step by step each day;
I will tell the saints and angels
As I lay my burden down
“Jesus led me all the way.”

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