In Ps 46:1-3, the Psalmist describes conditions in the earth that are horrendous, unlike anything that we have ever seen. And he says that, despite these things, “Therefore will not we fear”. The reason they won’t fear is that God is a very present help in the midst of all this trouble.
They will not fear though the earth be removed, which will happen at the Second Coming of the Lord, Is 13:13, 24:20. Nor will they fear though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, which will happen in Rev 8:8. Or though the waters roar and be troubled, Ps 107:23-27, and the mountains shake, as in Ezek 38:20 when the mountains shall be thrown down, they won’t fear.
They will not fear because God is a very present help in all this trouble. And he is a very present help when we go through trouble. No matter how big or small, God will be there to help you because:
God is our refuge. A refuge is a shelter or protection from danger. No reason in the world to be afraid. Nothing and no one can get to you in God’s refuge. And you don’t have to run to the shelter. He is with you and so he shelters you right where you are. David sheltered from Saul when Saul was right there. Saul was going to get David because he was surrounded. But God drew Saul away because Israel was attacked, 1 Sam 23:26-28.
He is a refuge for you to shelter. You don’t have to trench like Israel against the Philistines and Goliath. God is your refuge right where you are. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were sheltered from the fiery furnace.
It is totally contrary to Ps 46:1-3 for Christians to be preppers. God is your defense. Yet, we also need to stand and fight.
God is our strength. Strength is support; that which supports. Fear zaps your strength. You lose a contest, for example, when you fear. Therefore, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Ps 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever”. You don’t have to be strong because he is. In our weakness we see his strength.
When God is your strength, you can stand, fight, and carry on in that which God has given you to do, 2 Tim 4:16-17. David was strengthened by God after Ziklag. He said, Ps 71:16, I will go in the strength of the Lord God. You don’t need something else to strengthen you or your army to give you an advantage. You are stronger in the Lord than others are with horses and chariots, Ps 20:7. See Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahoite, 2 Sam 23:9-10.
Contrast Ps 52:7 “the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness”. When Uzziah the king was strong he was lifted up to his own destruction, 2 Chr 26:15-16. The Amorite was strong as the oaks, yet the Lord destroyed him, Amos 2:9.
God is our help. Help is that which gives assistance and delivers from difficulty or distress. God is a very present help in trouble. And See Ps 46:5. 2 Chr 14:11, And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. You can rest on God; he will help you.
2 Chr 32:8, with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Is 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”. An angel fought for Hezekiah. God helped Gideon against the Midianites. And he will help you in whatever you are going through.
God gives you the win over the enemy. In Stephen’s case, the Lord gave him the win. The Lord stood to meet him. He won the crown of life. Through Stephen’s testimony, the Lord brought powerful conviction on Saul. And Saul later turned and became an ambassador for the Lord.
Conclusion: If it appears to you that the enemy is getting the upper hand, remember that God is a very present help in trouble. Don’t be afraid. God is:
Our Refuge for us to shelter.
Our Strength for us to stand.
Our Help for us to win. And he is a very present help, at that.
In his refuge you will be safe. With his strength you will be able to stand and withstand. And with his help you will be able to overcome and win.