Tracie
Miles
"So
we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the
sea."
Psalm 46:2 (NLT)
Recently
as I was waiting to board a plane, I felt a little twinge of
anxiety.
I
looked
tentatively at the other passengers at the gate, wondering if any posed a
threat. I found myself reading their faces, looking at their carry-on bags
and
speculating if anything dangerous might have slipped
through.
You see, the horrific events of previous months were
heavy on my heart. My mind had been filled with school shootings, the Boston
Marathon bombing, massive floods in the Southwest, the plant explosion in
Texas,
tornados, and tragedies overseas. As the news broadcasts so many calamities,
innocent lives lost and people injured, it's easy to harbor fear and wonder:
What's happening to our world? Why
are
people so evil? Can we ever feel safe?
In
that
airport terminal, my mind was on the verge of drifting to a thousand
what-ifs
and whys when I remembered God's promise in Psalm 46. As I allowed His truth
to
sink in, I paused to take comfort in the fact that there was no need to
fear,
because no matter what, God is with us.
Verses 1-3 assure us that "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to
help in
times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the
mountains
crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains
tremble as
the waters surge!" Interlude
God
is
our Protector. He is where we find strength to get through tough times when
we
are afraid. When the earth crumbles, floods abound, avalanches roar,
tornados
threaten—He is our refuge.
Yet,
sometimes in the face of tragedy and heartache, we question God, doubting
His
promise of protection. Although God does have the authority and ability to
protect us from every trouble, sometimes He uses the trials we go through to
teach us, purify us and draw us closer to Him. Although at times it may seem
that God has not protected us in the way we need or desire, we can rest in
knowing that He is protecting us in the way He knows is best for us to learn
to
fully depend on God.
Psalm 46:4-7 says, "A river brings joy to the city of our God, the
sacred
home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From
the
very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their
kingdoms crumble! God's voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of
Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress."
Interlude
While I
love the ocean, I don't long to dig my toes in the shorelines when there's a
storm. But I wouldn't mind sitting on the banks of a peaceful river, even
during
a rainstorm. Just like the calm, flowing waters of a river, God weaves His
peace
and provision throughout our lives even in chaos.
Psalm 46:8-11 says, "Come, see the glorious works of the LORD: See how
he
brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the
earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. Be
still,
and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored
throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God
of
Israel is our fortress." Interlude
Although
the world is in disarray, God is still God. He is still on the throne. Still
mighty. Still faithful. Still sovereign.
In
all
three sections in this passage, each one ends with the word
Interlude.
The definition of interlude is to pause, break, breathing space, or
rest.
When
we
pause to focus on the truth that God is God, we find rest.
If
fear
has been creeping into your heart lately, pause and remember that God is
your
protector; His presence is with you, and He is in the highest position of
authority over this broken world. Ask Him to settle the anxiousness in your
heart. Then, just breathe.
Dear
Lord, thank You for being a safe place to flee, for always providing peace
in
the face of anxieties. Fill us with joy. In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
The Happiest of Fridays,
Richard
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