One of the most comforting verses in Scripture is the declaration that God is an ever present help. He is with us in the middle of all life’s problems. God is there, by our side, in any and every situation. He is our safe place, our strength and security. Help is a cry from the heart and when we come to the end of ourselves, and call out, God is there. Because He has promised that He is our intervention, our assistance, and all that we need.
God Is Our Refuge And Strength Verse
The first of our winter storms hit last week. They usually start in October and go through to March, but this one came early. Fortunately, there was a weather warning. Everyone retreated indoors and made sure everything was put away, or tied down, as the storm approached.
There is a feeling of peace when we are safe in the middle of a storm. It can rage and do its worst, but we are protected. In faith, we can know that peace and security all the time. There is a verse of Scripture in the psalms that so many people draw comfort from. It is a confident declaration that God is our refuge and strength.
Psalm 46:1-3
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
“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.” NIV
Psalm 46:1-3
Psalm 46 is a song that declares trust in God through cataclysmic events. When those things that seem to be enduring and unshakeable crumble and fall, we can still place our confidence in God.
Through life-changing circumstances and in the middle of overwhelming trouble we need not be afraid. But, if we do feel afraid, and so often we do as our feelings overwhelm us, there is encouragement. The words of this psalm focus on the might and authority of God, but also, on His never-ending grace.
We can express our fears to God, because He knows and understands our weakness. God loves us and has compassion for us. When we trust in Him, that He is with us, He will strengthen us.
The Meaning of God Is My Refuge
Most of us, thankfully, have never had to seek a refuge to escape danger. But unfortunately, some will have that experience of having to flee from a storm, or flood, or violence, or abuse, or even war. To find a refuge is to find a place of safety free from physical, emotional, or spiritual harm. A place to hide, to rest, and regain our strength.
When we can say that God is my refuge, we are declaring that we know He is our security. This feeling of being safe, of knowing the peace of God brings a quiet inner strength. This is not self-confidence but godly confidence, not because of our circumstances, but despite our circumstances.
We can make these words of Scripture our own declaration of faith, and say, God is my refuge, He is my safe place, and He is my strength in every situation.
Ever Present Help In Trouble
The Passion Translation describes God’s ever-present help in a slightly different way, that He is a proven help. This comes from our knowledge and understanding of God’s help to His people revealed in Scripture. What God has done for others in the past is inspiring for today.
But it also comes from living through life’s storms depending on God. It is through tough times, through difficulties, that we grow and mature in faith. It is there, in the middle of a storm, that we come to know God’s ever-present help by our own personal experience.
Psalm 46:1
“God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble – more than enough and always available whenever I need you.” Psalm 46:1 TPT
It is the ‘knowing’ by experience that changes everything. When we turn to God in prayer and receive His help with whatever life throws at us. Whether it is fear, or loss, or regret, or disappointment. Then we begin to know that God is our strength, our shelter, and our place of safety. He becomes our proven help, more than enough, and always available.
My Very Present Help In Time Of Need
Scripture teaches that God is Omnipresent, meaning that He is everywhere. There is no place to which His knowledge and power do not extend. This is expressed throughout Scripture but most poetically in the psalms. These are songs and poems that reveal personal relationship. God is not remote, He is our Heavenly Father watching over us, and ever with us.
There is nowhere that we can go to hide from God’s presence. He watches over His people, at all times, wherever they are, and He is always alert. There is an assurance in the omnipresence of God, when we know His love, His grace and mercy. We find peace in the knowledge that at all times, wherever we are, whatever we are going through, God’s presence is always with us.
Related post: Where does my help come from?
God Is Our Helper in Time of Need
God is our helper in time of need, is such a powerful truth. So often we only turn to God and seek Him in our times of need. When a problem seems too big, or too difficult, and beyond what we can deal with. It is then that we reach out and ask for help.
Help is a cry from the heart when we recognize that we need assistance! There are so many times when we struggle on rather than asking for help. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want pride to be a stumbling block. Rather I want to release and let go of my problems and give them completely to God.
The truth is when we stop trying to fix everything and everybody ourselves, then we give God space to move. This is such a safe place to be, resting in the peace of God. This is where we learn to trust in Him through all of life’s difficulties, as we wait to see what God will do…
Help me stand for something
here in cancer’s fire;
help that I Your praises sing
even when I tire
of the blood and puke and pain,
of this life, itself;
help that I in life remain,
and not stay on the shelf.
Help my heart that I may give
encouragement and aid
to the hurting who yet live
in prison of ‘afraid’.
Help me love with out cessation;
pour me out as Your libation.
You are overcoming with your honesty and openness – praying for God’s comfort and strength for you for each day. Thanks again for your poignant poetry!
Oh wow! What a moment with your two-year-old! I have begged for God’s help in similar situations to many you list. I’ve often been in awe of that verse. The earth giving way, mountains falling, water roaring–those seem like occasions for fear to me! Yet even then, we’re safe in His hands.
Yes God is there in each and every one of those moments – and our testimony is of His faithfulness! Thank you Barbara
You know that emoji with the two wide eyes? I am literally making that face right now. Haha. I’m so glad your son was safe (and that you bought window locks). Yes, God is faithful! I pray we are able to recognize all the times He grabs us off the roof and pushes us through a window.
Amie, FMF #13
Yes! So many times, when we see a ladder and take that step up to a place of danger where we never should be! Thanks Amie 🙂
I had to change my IRS filing status (long story not for here). In doing so I was going to owe thousands of dollars. I was devastated. I wasn’t sure how it all was going to work out. As I went to bed in a panic, I heard these words in my mind, “This is an opportunity to trust God.” Those were not my words and I knew it. They brought such peace- I slept like a baby. The next day my daughter remembered something I had forgotten about. Long story short- the IRS ended up owing me money. That was a huge blessing, but it took crying out to God and resting in Him.
God is so good! Thank you for sharing your testimony of God’s faithfulness – just amazing that He gave you that peace and reassurance to trust in Him.
OH.MY.WORD.
My heart was racing while only reading your post! Thanks for sharing your story and your faith. Do you ever wonder if God hears, “Help!” every moment of every day?
When I was going through a divorce, each morning I sat on my bed, held out my hand, and asked Jesus to hold it. I found help and strength for each trying day. (Karen, FMF #4)
Thanking God for His faithfulness,, that we can reach out and take hold of His hand!
I too experienced a roof type emergency with 2 of my children aged 3 and 4. And my 5 year old daughter caused it to happen to them! But by the grace and goodness of God they were brought back into the house safely too. Jesus is a present help in time of need. Thanks for sharing such blessed truth that forever stands- even in the midst of world chaos.
Yes – I knew there would be other parents with similar stories – praise God for His ever-present help!
I do not have my own version of this story and cannot imagine how your heart must have reacted upon the sight. So grateful our God was your help and helped you keep clarity of thought to think it through safely for everyone.
So much to be thankful to God for – His saving and keeping power!