Introduction

Good morning, family. Today, we are going to delve into the profound truth of Psalm 46:1, which tells us about the nature of our God as our refuge, strength, and help in times of trouble.

The Scripture reads,

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

In the spirit of this divine assurance, I feel led to share a remarkable quote from Dallas Willard who once said, "God's 'response' to our prayers is not a charade. He does not pretend that he is answering our prayer when he is only doing what he was going to do anyway. Our requests really do make a difference in what God does or does not do." This quote underscores the reality that our Lord is not just a passive observer but an active participant in our lives, ready and willing to help us in our times of need.

Let's bow our heads now in prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for being our refuge, our strength, and our present help in times of need. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to fully understand the depth of Your love as we explore Your word today. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Let’s get started!

Our Refuge and Strength

God is our refuge and strength. This statement, while simple, carries a profound depth of meaning that is worth exploring.

Refuge definition: A refuge is a place of safety, a sanctuary where one can find shelter from danger or distress. In the context of our relationship with God, this means that He is our safe haven, our shelter in the storm. When we are overwhelmed by the trials and tribulations of life, we can run to Him and find safety and security. He is our fortress, our stronghold, our place of protection.

Emotional and spiritual safety: In God, we find a place of emotional healing and restoration. He is our comforter, our counselor, our healer. When our hearts are broken, when our spirits are crushed, when our souls are weary, we can run to Him and find healing and restoration. He is our refuge, our sanctuary, our place of healing and restoration.

Strength definition: This is equally profound. Strength is the capacity to withstand great force or pressure. In the context of our relationship with God, this means that He is our source of strength, our source of power, our source of endurance. When we are weak, when we are tired, when we are overwhelmed, we can rely on Him and find strength, power, and endurance. He is our rock, our fortress, our tower of strength.

Emotional and spiritual strength: In God, we find a source of emotional resilience and spiritual fortitude. He is our encourager, our motivator, our inspirer. When we are discouraged, when we are demotivated, when we are uninspired, we can rely on Him and find encouragement, motivation, and inspiration. He is our strength, our power, our source of resilience and fortitude.

A reality: It has been experienced by countless believers throughout history. It is a reality that can be experienced by you and me today. It is a reality that can transform our lives, our relationships, our communities, and our world.

Our Help in Times of Trouble

The concept of God as our help in times of trouble is not a mere abstract idea, but a reality that has been experienced by many people ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO