Psalm 46 is a song of encouragement. It reminds us that no matter what may happen, as followers of God we have joy and security. Even Martin Luther turned to this Psalm for encouragement. It’s said that whenever he received discouraging news he would read Psalm 46 (Matthew Henry).
In Luther’s own words, “We sing this Psalm to the praise of God, because God is with us, and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends his church and his word, against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of the devil, and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh and sin.”
Finding Strength
I particularly find strength in the first few verses that read, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3).
I love image these verses paint. The world can be in absolute chaos with mountains falling into the sea, yet God will still be there. Not only will he be present, but he will also be the place where we can run to take refuge and our source of strength.
Have you recently received some discouraging news? Are you currently in the midst of a storm? Does it feel as though the earth is giving way under your feet? If so, turn to Psalm 46, slowly read through it, and soak in the encouragement it provides.
Studying the Bible is an essential part of our faith journey because it provides us with hope, encouragement, and strength. If you want to begin strengthening your own faith through Bible study, join us in the Study Nook Group today!
Beautiful, encouraging words! Thank you for sharing.
April, I too am so grateful for the reminder these verse give us that no matter what is swirling around, no matter the chaos God is still there. We are neighbors today at #GracefulLinkup
PS.: if you are looking for another place to link to on Thursday’s I would love if you would consider joining my linkup #TuneInThursday – it opens Thursday 3 am PST and runs through Sunday night. You can find it at debbiekitterman.com/blog
Thank you for the encouragement! The Psalms are one of my favorite places to go when I feel distraught, out of sorts, or just plain grumpy. There’s something about the combination of lament, praise, and promise that lifts my soul.