1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 3though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah (Psalm 46:1-3)
A couple of year ago I was standing on my driveway talking to a family friend. I was leaning on her vehicle, when I felt the car move, though no one was in the driver’s seat. My heart was racing. I looked over at the friend who was also standing. There had been an earthquake. I’ve lived in California for decades and therefore have experienced my fair share of earthquakes. But, no matter how many times I’ve felt the ground move, nothing can quite prepare you for it. I am glad that I have not had to deal with tornadoes. Those were bad, but at least you have warnings. At least sirens that tell people to race to their basements and grab their battery-powered radios. Sometimes the changes in our worlds feel like a tornado—big or scary, but not without warning. Other times, the changes in our worlds are more like an earthquake. They just happen. The ground just shifts beneath us and there we are, heart pounding, wondering what in the world just happened. If it feels to you like this past 18 months has been full of earthquakes, you are not alone. Set to the backdrop of Covid-19, racial uprisings, and an election year here in America, tens of millions of people have lost their jobs. Businesses have had to shutter and close. Parents have had to simultaneously work from home while facilitating online learning for their kids. So many of us have had to change the very basic parts of how we work – not to mention how we gather with friends, shop for groceries, or what we do with our free time. Psalm 46 is a Psalm for our times. It helps us know deep down that while we can never quite prepare for an earthquake, we should expect that earthquakes are indeed coming. The ground will shift beneath us. We will have days where everything feels like it changed. But it also helps us know that God is a very present help in trouble. A very present help. God is helpful in that in the Lord we find both refuge from the quaking earth and strength to face whatever changes are taking place. And in this, we have the invitation not to fear. In the same way, when we rush to our kids in the middle of the night because of an earthquake, God rushes to us when the earth moves in our world. So, remember this today: just when you feel your heart racing, just when you feel disoriented by all the change in our world and in your life and work, God is near. God is with you. Gracious God, thank You that You are an ever-present help in times of trouble. Help us to trust You even when change feels so intense that it feels like the ground is shaking beneath our feet. Comments are closed.
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