BE STILL IN THE STORM! GOD IS AT WORK!

Only God’s Word can inform us about what is true!

READ PSALM 46

Psalm 46:8-11

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Selah 

As God worked in the life of the Israelites, they should have called attention to their Lord: the God who had power to make the other nations desolate and to bring victory to them.

God desired that they would recognize Him and find peace in Him. The natural reaction would have been for them to praise Him above all nations, above all things.

True believers frequently experience the tender care of their God, who has consistently shown His power and love through the many difficulties of their lives. Those who know Him are continually encouraged by His loving care and tenderness.

As His children, we are well aware of our helplessness and dependence upon our Lord. We came to Him as desolate and broken people deserving nothing, and we have found in God our rest and our refuge.

Yet, we are so easily driven by our feelings, which are driven by our thoughts. God wants our thoughts to be informed by truth, but we are surrounded by lies that want to control our thoughts.

Our hearts are so deceived and deceitful. The father of lies rules the world and so our hearts can quickly embrace his lies.

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately sick;

who can understand it? 

Left to our human thinking, we are not even able to judge our hearts and our feelings. Only God’s Word can inform us about what is true and what should be driving our decisions and reactions.

When Christ invites us to come to Him, He promises to provide peace and rest.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

God’s provision is inexhaustible.

Philippians 4:19-20

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

We have a comforter.

John 14:25-27

 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 

He prepares us to help others.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

The Psalmist reminds us to be still and wait upon God. Let me tell you the signs that we are not doing this: when we have no rest, no peace, we are troubled, we are not close to God, and we are unprepared to help others.

Why should we be still? Because when the waves are driving our thoughts, we are in turmoil. When the clouds are driving our thoughts, we live in fear. When people are driving our thoughts, we live in confusion.

We need to stop, redirect our thoughts, meditate on the truth of the Scriptures and trust in what we know of the character of God. Even though our surroundings are fluctuating, our God always remains our sure foundation.

When in a storm, don’t doubt what you know about the Lord. Be still and your fear will turn to trust, your anxiety will turn to peace.

This Psalm has walked us through the reality of life: that we live in the midst of real storms, protected by our true God, and our faith will direct us to a life of trustful dependence and true peace.

WE ARE SO BLESSED!