Notes on Hope Devotional

 Ever Present Help

Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)
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.

Time passes, but we all remember where we were on 9/11 in 2001. The images we saw in New York City and in Washington, DC, are etched in our minds. As a nation, we experienced “the earth giving way and the mountains falling into the heart of the sea.” We entered an abyss of disbelief, unbelievable tragedy, and unimaginable grief. In my Bible, I have these verses in Psalms underlined and dated, 9/11/2001.

“God is our refuge and strength and ever-present help in trouble.” The fact of God being a refuge and strength takes precedence as a promise of who God is. We give so much attention to the crisis, the circumstances, and the chaos, it’s easy to forget who God is.

The word “therefore” leads us to the place where we can find confidence and not live in fear, knowing who God is, our refuge and strength. We can walk through the “though” as we face storms, trials, knowns, and unknowns. These verses state that, even though, nonetheless, nevertheless, and despite what we are facing, we do not have to fear. God is our safe place, refuge, and strength in the midst of the storm. It’s a promise and a fact.

The second promise of who God is, his “ever-present help in time of trouble.” When we are in a crisis, we need help now, in the moment.   God’s timing in our hour of need is impeccable. God is faithful, unfailing, with us in the midst of our trouble, pain, chaos, and storms. We can trust Him completely because He is absolutely faithful. 

 Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your promises that You are my refuge and ever-present help in trouble. Help me believe, trust, and rest in Your promise that I don’t have to fear, but completely trust You. Thank You. In Jesus Name, Amen.