God's Cure For Stress Series

God’s cure for Stress

Psalm 46

Introduction:

Opening Ill.- A man went to his doctor complaining about severe headaches. He was told to stop smoking, which he did. The headaches persisted, he was told to stop using Alcohol. He did, but the headaches continued. The doctor told him to lose weight , he did. But nothing touched the headache. Then is was discovered that He wore a size 15 collar on a size 16 neck. That’s enough to give anyone a headache.

Many things will cause headaches, poor vision, smog, too little light, emotional upsets. Doctors tell us that the most common headache comes from the everyday pressures of life. Stress is a necessary but unpleasant part of life. Overwhelming situations can produce stress that is more than people can handle unless adequately equipped.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE STRESS?

Moses responded to the stress of Israel’s complaining by Hitting a rock in disobedience.

Joshua handled stress by seeking the Lord in Prayer.

Nehemiah handled stress by seeking the Lord in Prayer

Jonah handled stress by running the other way.

HOW DO YOU REACT TO OVERWHELMING STRESS IN YOUR LIFE?

The Psalmist has a cure for us:

BI- WHEN STRESS COMES, FIND REST IN GOD

In Psalm 46, We see Three Attributes (Qualities) of God, that provide comfort in times of Stress.

Quick outline: I.. The Sufficiency of God (v1-3)

II. The Security of God (v4-7)

III. The Supremacy of God (v8-11)

As we scan this Psalm, we see a five letter word- SELAH at the end of each section. This is a Heb. Word meaning “a Time of reflection”. They serve like a pause marking in a musical score.

For remember the psalms are a collection of hymns sung by the Jewish nation. They will assist us in understanding this Psalm. They are a built in hint to unlocking the truths found within this Psalm.

Let’s begin with Prayer

Psalm 46 Begins with the realization of

I. The Sufficiency of God (Read v1-3)

Many people, in times of difficulty, do not give God the opportunity to reveal himself to us.

It requires intimacy with God.

In V 1 the Psalmist reminds us

1. That He is Our REFUGE.

That is He is shelter from danger - Psalm 62:7-9

(62:8- reveals the intimacy - As a result, “we pour out our heart before him.)

He is also a shield to all who place their confidence in Him- II Samuel 22:31-33; Psalm 84:9

2. That He is our STRENGTH

In seeking God’s presence, Strength is found

“Seek the Lord and His Strength” - Psalm 105:4

Strength is an essential attribute of God - Psalm 63:2

“All power belongs to God” - Psalm 62:11

He Fights our battles - Ex 15:13

Many people do not give God the opportunity to show what He can do, when things get tough because they have a shallow view of who God is.

THUS, COUNT YOURSELF SAFE, AND BE STRENGTHEN BY RESTING IN THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD.

Relate your stress to Him and seek His protection....

For

3. He is a very powerful HELP IN TROUBLE . (in the midst of our difficulties.)

Hebrew- for word “trouble” means “ to be restricted, or cramped” it literally means to be “between a rock and a hard place”

GOD IS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE, INSTANTLY PRESENT IN ANY SITUATION.

HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL, THEREFORE WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE AND REST IN HIM.

AS a result of knowing who God is (V1), we don’t have to be afraid when natural disaster comes.

In other words, KNOWING GOD CAUSES FEAR TO BE AN IRRATIONAL RESPONSE.

(Read v2,3)

ILL- Charles Hadden Spurgeon- worry /fear

Charles Hadden Spurgeon, a great 19th century preacher, once said that he worried for weeks before a speaking engagement, even to the extent of hoping he would break a leg and miss the event . When he finally entered the pulpit to speak , he was exhausted.

Then Spurgeon faced up to his fear. He asked himself, what is the worse thing that could happen to me during my sermon? Whatever it was , he decided, the heavens would not collapse. He knew he magnified his fears. Once he faced his worries for what they were, he relaxed, simply because his mind was no longer divided.

Notice the description of the 4 traumatic situations each introduced with the word though

Though the earth be removed - 2b - Avolandes

Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea- 2c- Volcanic Eruptions

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled-3a- Tidal Waves

Though the mountains shake with swelling thereof-3b- Earthquakes

The world around us may be caving in. When trouble comes, our natural reaction is to run.

BUT GOD TELLS US TO RELAX, AND LET HIM HAVE CONTROL (cf v10)