April 16 - Reading 14: Psalms 46-49

“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way…” (Psalm 46:2)

Today’s Psalm reading begins with these powerful words: “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” (Psalm 46:1-3). That’s a pretty dramatic turning upside down of our world.

After describing this chaotic scenario, God says He will help “just at the break of dawn” (Psalm 46:5). What is the “break of dawn”? It marks the end of night. When our lives feel like we are in the darkest of nights, take courage; He promises He is coming “just at the break of dawn.”

Psalm 46 continues with words describing our world today: “Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;” but then comforts with these words: “Come behold the works of the Lord. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire” (Psalm 46:6-9). Talk about our god taking an active role in the affairs of men!

Surprisingly, the very next verse is God’s familiar directive to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Sometimes it feels as though our world is crashing in around us. For some of us, it literally may be. Some of us may be suffering persecution or famine, with suffering and death on every side, so it seems. But God says, even then, we an choose to not be afraid, because He is on His holy throne as He reigns and rules the nations (Psalm 47:8). Nothing and no one can thwart His plans, which include these momentary trials that are working for us “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

As we come before Him today, let’s quiet our minds in the midst of our circumstances and speak truth to our hearts. Through all the storms of this temporary life, though it may feel at times like the earth beneath our feet is giving way, nothing takes Him by surprise, and He is with us always, in every moment, “even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).