GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND OUR STRENGTH, AN EVER--PRESENT HELP IN DISTRESS.
God is with us, even during earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, when all that's left of our houses and towns are blown- in walls, all that's left of our memories is one muddy photo.
THUS WE DO NOT FEAR, THOUGH EARTH BE SHAKEN, AND MOUNTAINS QUAKE TO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA,
God suffers with us when our lives undergo a sea change of suffering. Or, we may be mountains of strength, and then a tragedy comes at us out of nowhere and blows up our lives, and for the first time, we totter - but He is there to steady us.
THOUGH THE SEA'S WATERS RAGE AND FOAM, AND MOUNTAINS TOTTER AT ITS SURGING.
God is with us even when we have been betrayed by friends or family. Even when our brains are fogged out by tears and anti-depressants. Even when we've moved to a new city and we're lonely and know no-one and we wonder if He traveled there with us because we can't find Him yet in this strange, new Church.
THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; OUR STRONGHOLD IS THE GOD OF JACOB.
God is with us, even when we mourn over a miscarriage or abortion, even when we struggle through a divorce or an addiction, even when our son or daughter or spouse or friend commits suicide.
THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; OUR STRONGHOLD IS THE GOD OF JACOB.
God is with us when we're at war with ourselves, and at war with Him, when our hearts are pierced with a sword of bitter sorrow and arrows of doubt penetrate our faith. We try to shield ourselves against believing in His love - yet suddenly He is there to embrace us.
GOD STOPS WARS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, BREAKS THE BOW, SPLINTERS THE SPEAR, AND BURNS THE SHIELDS WITH FIRE.
God stands ready to act when we lose a job, endure a death, get involved in a family argument, are wounded by racism or prejudice, are overburdened with sickness and debt, and the only words in our mouths and hearts are "Why, God?"
GOD SAYS 'BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD! I AM EXALTED AMONG THE NATIONS, EXALTED ON THE EARTH;
THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; OUR STRONGHOLD IS THE GOD OF JACOB.
We have invented a God Who is too small if we try to tell Him what we think He should do; if we try to guess what He will do; if we think that there is nothing that He CAN do. If this is the way we think, we've forgotten Who our God is!
THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; OUR STRONGHOLD IS THE GOD OF JACOB!!
(Psalm 46)