God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! (Psalm 46:1-3 NLT)
Rather than enemies, this time the Psalmist was facing natural disasters: earthquakes, mountains crumbling into the sea, oceans roaring and foaming, mountains trembling and water surging. I’ve never had to endure an earthquake or a hurricane or tornado, but I know some who have, and how devastating they can be. Normalcy is ripped away, as is the familiar and even the loved. Such are cataclysms. In a sense, even a tiny virus is a natural disaster, and it will shake and crumble your world.
Later in the Psalm we see that nations are in chaos and kingdoms are crumbling. And if that’s not enough, God gets involved: God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! See how he brings destruction upon the world. (v. 6, 8) But he does so with a purpose: He causes wars to end throughout the earth. (v.9) Yet in the midst of all this natural and divine disaster, we are told: Be still, and know that I am God! (v.10)
One of the great things about this Psalm is even before troubles start, our attention is already held by the Lord. He is our refuge and strength and always able to help in times of trouble. If you’re able to start there, imagine the impact you will have on the things that follow, like earthquakes, mountains crumbling and the oceans roaring. Let the disasters and the disease be seen in the context of who God is. Because whatever follows, it is neither as great as nor as powerful as the Lord God Almighty. And whatever follows, you can be still and know that He is God.
Read last week’s blog, Dealing with Trauma – In My Distress?
