Psalm 46 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 46 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Verse 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
Verse 3though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
Verse 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
Verse 5God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
Verse 6The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
Verse 7The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Verse 8Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
Verse 9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
Verse 10"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."
Verse 11The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Devotion
When I am frustrated by circumstances or misunderstandings, I rely on Psalm 146. It lays bare the heart of the truth I ignore—my plans for life are transitory. I want to trust that God is refuge and strength but I only rarely live and act as if I believe God is doing more than I am to improve the world.
When what we rely on for support and consistency is stripped away, we can no longer ignore the reality that all these things are temporary and cannot offer lasting comfort or promise us new life. God alone will remain ever-present and constantly attentive to the good of all living things, including us.
The psalmist calls us to stop our reactive living, still our anxious lives, and listen so we can hear and discern the holy work that God is accomplishing in our hearts, our relationships, and our world.
Prayer
Gracious God, still our heads and hearts, that we might come to know and trust that you are the One who is refuge and strength in times of trouble. May we offer you our lives in thanks, for you are the source of hope for all our needs. Amen.
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