A song to sing when we are troubled

Psalm 46 has been a source of comfort and faith for centuries. The opening verses celebrate God’s presence and strength.

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

It is important to remember that –

• Troubles come! No one is exempt. Both good and evil, rich and poor, Asians and Occidentals as well as young and old understand trouble. When I get to thinking that my troubles are greater and unlike anyone else’s, I ask myself, “Why should my life be better than everyone else’s?”

• Troubles can be intense. The word pictures of the Psalmist are graphically descriptive. All who have heard the pounding of the ocean’s surf, have been felt the waves that can suck one away from the sandy beach, or have felt the tremors of an earthquake, can hear the sounds of trouble and know the ominous feeling – troubles are real! Illnesses touch good people and it never seems fair. Those who keep fastidious financial records and are vigilant with their accounts get pulled downward when banks flounder and national economies collapse. The most wary and savvy can be duped by evil charlatans. And, sometimes we are in trouble because of our own misjudgments and character flaws.

• God is present in troubling times. Haven’t you had experiences that you would never want to repeat? And, have you, like me, grown in the ways of the Lord in the trouble? James chapter one reinforces the Psalmist. One of the Lord’s Names is Emanuel, God is with us! The Twelve feared for their lives while Jesus slept. When awakened, Jesus spoke to the storm and peace was restored.

• Learn to hear God’s voice in peaceful times. Knowing what to do in times of special challenge is learned while we converse with the Lord before the storms rage. We cannot afford to wait until the emergency occurs to discover how to respond correctly. One must establish the rhythms of wisdom which include daily obeying the Lord’s Word, establishing a sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit in routine issues, and developing reliable counsel among trusted friends before a crisis challenges. When the big troubles come one is prepared and can sing with the Psalmist, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”

• Expect the best! A line from a biography of the great Gospel singer, Ethel Waters, says, “God don’t birth no failures honey!” Think about it friends, we are still here, in spite of all the troubles we’ve known. Just think, we cannot remember what troubles kept us awake even a few days ago. The Psalm ends with rousing assurance, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Jesus’ disciples know that if we aren’t here tomorrow, we’ll be in heaven. How great is that? We get to go home from work early, with pay! Look up! Smile! It will be alright!