Our Ever-Present Help in Trouble

Are we in a movie? Is this all hype? It almost doesn’t feel real. Yet here we are battling a virus that seems to have a mind of it’s own. My heart wants to fear. So many questions. Everything feels uncertain.

I know we face major issues in our world every day, but this one feels different. I’ve personally never experience a time where our country is headed toward lockdown.

Even our small rural community is taking action to flatten the curve. The school is closed for at least two weeks. The local grocery store is only taking phone orders because it’s been overwhelmed with 600 visitors a day. The local Ag dealer is only taking phone orders.

It’s a strange time. But we should be mindful and not act like nothing is happening. We should take action and practice social distancing. All the while using wisdom.

Wisdom

Wisdom is not the ability to memorize biblical rules of behavior. It’s also not educational smarts.

According to Proverbs, wisdom is the ability to honor God and honor people in the ways we live.

• Wisdom is a higher way of thinking. 
• Wisdom perceives God-glorifying yet people-helping ways to live. 
• To be WISE is to be equipped with spiritual and practical wisdom.

Here are a few examples.

• Proverbs 1:7 “The awe and respect of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
• James 3:13 “Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others.”
• Proverbs 28:26 “If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.”
• Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

In other words, Proverbs is saying to set our attention back on God, get along with others, and don’t think you know it all. Let’s honor God and people in the way we are behaving. 

What’s Really True?

But in the middle of it all, we have to go back to what’s really true. Because fear would like to have its way. 

In my opinion, the only source of pure truth is found in the Bible. And this verse is helping keep my heart at peace.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” Psalm 47: 1-2a NIV

Refuge: When the Old Testament speaks of refuge, it is always in the context of a threat, something wrong or dangerous in the world. We live in a fallen world wrecked by sin—a world of dangers around us and brokenness inside us. We also have a real enemy out to kill, steal, and destroy. We cannot avoid these realities, only seek shelter from them. God is our only true and impenetrable refuge (shelter). He is literal felt safety and heart strength to weather the storm. It’s in Him we find our identity. Let’s run to Him!

Ever-Present Help: I love this phrase. It’s so comforting to my soul. God is not far away. He is present. Ever-present and all-sufficient. He is close and coming closer. And He wants to help! We see this in the life of Jesus that not only is He able, but willing to help. And in the context of this verse, very willing in times of trouble.

This settles my heart. Because of who Jesus is and what He has done. Because He is our refuge and strength and our ever-present help in trouble. I do not need to fear. 

Instead, we can fix our attention on Him (with praise, gratitude, and trust) and respond with wisdom, love, and compassion to those around us.

Prayer: Father we give thanks that you are our refuge and strength. You are an ever-present help in trouble. You are close and coming closer. We rest our hearts in truth. And we resist fear and choose to trust. Help us today to love with compassion and wisdom. Amen