Our Ever-Present Help When Catastrophe Hits
By Jennifer Slattery
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
We may be able to prepare for numerous difficulties that come our way, but sooner or later, we all find ourselves in a place of desperation.
When catastrophe hits, we need someone bigger and stronger than everything coming against us. Thanks be to God, we have that in Jesus Christ. He who formed the galaxies filled with billions of fiery balls of light, who set boundaries for the crashing seas, who raises up nations and tears others down, sees you at your point of greatest need. He has the power to meet you there, to shelter you until the storm has passed—to still the storm entirely, should He choose.
Scholars aren’t certain who wrote Psalm 46 or when, but many believe it may celebrate the time when God granted King Hezekiah and his people victory over Assyrian invading armies. Samaria had been seized, Israel deported, and the fortified cities of Judah captured.
Terrified, King Hezekiah begged for mercy and promised to pay tribute to the Assyrian king. The tyrant responded by making a mockery of King Hezekiah’s army in front of all his fighting men. If Judah didn’t surrender, he said the people would be reduced to such destitution, they’d eat their excrement and drink their urine to survive.
Clearly outmuscled, in desperation, Hezekiah turned to God—the only One able to bring him victory. And God showed up. Scripture tells us that night the angel of the Lord destroyed 185,000 attacking soldiers, and the enemy fled. God proved Himself strong on His people’s behalf; He was their ever-present help in trouble.
The same God that saved Judah from a brutal, invading army stands with you, in your time trouble as well. He alone is your refuge and strength.
Jennifer Slattery is a writer, editor, speaker, and the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. She writes for Crosswalk, is the author of eight contemporary novels, and helped write Wholly Loved’s Bible study based on the life of Sarai (Gen. 12-23) titled Becoming His Princess, releasing in the spring/summer of 2019. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall outings with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. Visit her online at jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.
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Originally published Thursday, 03 January 2019.
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