Introduction

Good morning, my dear friends. Today, we gather here, not as strangers, but as a family. As a family, we share in each other's joys and sorrows, triumphs and trials. We are here today to learn, to grow, and to find comfort in God's word.

Our scripture for today is Psalm 46. Allow me to read it for you: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." What a powerful passage! It speaks of God's presence, His strength, His peace. It speaks of turmoil and tranquility, of ruin and restoration. It speaks to us, in our time of need.

God's Presence in the Midst of Pain

In the midst of our pain, it's easy to feel alone. It's easy to feel like the world is crashing down around us and there's no one there to help us pick up the pieces. But the truth is, we're never alone. Even in our darkest moments, God is there. He's there in the quiet whispers of the wind, in the gentle rustling of the leaves, in the soft glow of the moon. He's there, always, providing comfort and solace, even when we feel like we're all alone.

When we're hurting, it's easy to question why. Why is this happening? Why me? Why now? But the truth is, pain is a part of life. It's a part of the human experience. And while it may not feel like it at the moment, pain can be a catalyst for growth. It can push us to our limits, forcing us to dig deep and discover strengths we never knew we had. It can break us down, only to build us back up stronger and more resilient than before. And through it all, God is there. He's there, guiding us, supporting us, loving us, even when we feel like we're falling apart.

In our pain, it's easy to feel like God is distant. It's easy to feel like He's far away, unreachable, unattainable. But the truth is, God is closer than we think. He's there, in the stillness of the night, in the chaos of the day, in the silence and the noise. He's there, always, ready to listen, ready to comfort, ready to heal. We just have to open our hearts and let Him in.

When we're hurting, it's easy to lose faith. It's easy to question God's plan, to doubt His love, to lose sight of His promises. But the truth is, God's love is unwavering. His promises are unbreakable. His plan is perfect, even when we can't see it. And even when we lose faith, God doesn't lose faith in us. He's there, always, believing in us, cheering us on, holding us up, even when we feel like we're about to fall.

In our pain, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. It's easy to feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders, like we're drowning in our sorrows, like we're lost in our despair. But the truth is, God is our lifeline. He's our anchor in the storm, our light in the darkness, our hope in the despair. He's there, always, ready to lift us up, ready to carry us through, ready to bring us peace, even when we feel like we're at war with ourselves.

When we're hurting, it's easy to feel defeated. It's easy to feel like we're fighting a losing battle, like we're running a race we can't win, like we're climbing a mountain we can't conquer. But the truth is, with God on our side, we're never defeated. We're never alone. We're never without hope. He's there, always, fighting our battles, running our race, climbing our mountain, even when we feel like we can't go on.

Sometimes we feel forgotten like we're invisible, insignificant, and unimportant. But the truth is, to God, we're everything. We're His children, His creation, His masterpiece. He knows us by name, He counts every hair on our head, He collects every tear in a bottle. He's there, always, remembering us, seeing us, loving us, even when we feel like we're forgotten.

When we're hurting, it's easy to feel hopeless. It's easy to feel like there's no end in sight, like there's no light at the end of the tunnel, like there's no rainbow after the storm. But the truth is, with God, there's always hope. There's always light. There's always a rainbow. He's there, always, bringing hope, shining light, painting rainbows, even when we feel like we're in the midst of a storm.

Relying on the Rock in Ruin

The first sub-point we encounter in this exploration is the idea of God as our refuge and strength ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO