Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1-2 (Living Bible) – God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea.
If the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea, this is an extreme trouble. If we know and trust God and know that He will always help us, we can be at peace whatever is happening around us. The problems we face may seem big but none of them compare to the world blowing up.
God is always with me, a very present help in trouble, always ready to help in times of trouble. Sometimes we feel like He is far away or that He won’t help, but according to the Word, He is near and will help. We need to put the Word above our feelings to enjoy its benefits.
Hebrews 4:2 – …For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
God doesn’t help those who help themselves; He helps those who trust in Him. He wants to help us all, but we can limit what He is able to do in our lives by not trusting Him.
The Lord delights in us when we believe in His mercy, and then He is able to help us and make things well with us. He takes pleasure in those not with great ability but those who worship Him and hope in His mercy.
Psalm 35:27 – Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant.
KJV – …Let the Lord be magnified which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.
Living – Great is the Lord, who enjoys helping His servant.
The Lord is near and He enjoys helping us. He wants to call on Him in our times of trouble so that He CAN rescue us.
Psalm 50:14-15 – Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High; call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.
Living – …I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory.
Psalm 147:11 – The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Jeremiah 9:24 – …but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.
Hope is happy and confident anticipation of good things. Mercy is God’s attitude towards us in bestowing freely whatever is necessary to meet our needs.
God takes pleasure in me when I keep an attitude of happy and confident anticipation of the good things he has promised and provided, when I actually expect him to bestow freely whatever it is that is necessary at the time to fully meet my needs – every day of my life! In every situation I find myself!
Great things will happen to one who learns to continually expect His mercy. God delights in those who expect His best every day – all day long! These are the ones He favors; these are the ones He is able to fully bless.
The amount of faith (hope, confident expectation, excited anticipation of good, actual heart trust) I put in God’s provision, His grace and mercy, corresponds to the amount of His power that will be released into my life and situation.
Psalm 33:22 – Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Matthew 8:13 – Go, let it be done for you according to your faith.
Mathew 9:29 – According to your faith let it be done to you.
Notice that things God does for us are in accordance to what we do. His love is upon us according to our hope in Him. It will be done for us according to our faith. To please God, we must not only believe that He exists but also that He will reward us when we seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Psalm 28:7 – The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.
It is when my heart trust in Him that I am helped.
Hebrews 4:14-16 – For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Amp – that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it).
The Lord is touched with the feelings of your infirmities but is moved to help you when you come boldly and take of the mercy and grace that is always there. He will help you always! God is able and willing to come to your aid when I am tempted. Immediately! Every Time! Your part is to draw near and take the mercy and grace you need to help in whatever need you are in.
Hebrews 2:18 – For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Amp – able (immediately) to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried…
The Lord is my refuge. Unto HIM I lay my life. He is my strength and my source.