“Confidence and peace emerge from the soil of an appropriated faith, not an abstract faith.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today –May 26, 2023
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:2
The Lord reminds us that even in the midst of chaos and destruction, we can trust Him and find comfort in His protection. The Psalmist is acknowledging that the world can be a scary and unpredictable place. Creation is decaying, but our Creator is growing His children for Himself. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when everything around us is falling apart. But instead of giving in to fear, the Scripture declares we have peace in God. Why? Because we know that the Lord is our refuge and strength. A refuge to protect us from reacting out of fear and the Spirit’s inner strength to persevere. We need not fear knowing our Creator is near to make our path clear.
In times of trouble, it’s easy to feel alone and abandoned. But Almighty God promises to be with you always, even when everything else fails. He is a strong and dependable fortress, a place of safety and security. No matter what happens, you can trust in His protection and find peace in His presence. The imagery in this verse is powerful. The idea of the earth giving way and the mountains falling into the heart of the sea is a frightening one. It’s a picture of total destruction and chaos. But even in the face of such overwhelming circumstances, you can have faith that God will be with you and will see you through. Turn off the news…focus on the Good News!
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).
As Jesus said, trouble can always be found in this world until you graduate to the trouble-free zone of heaven. The relational trouble you may face with a provocative person requires you to take the higher road of patience and prayer as your refuge from reacting out of fear and anger. Yes, the transition to love is likely to travel the road of selfishness until a heart is humbled and learns to defer to others with selfless service. Financial troubles may be interrupting your sleep. If so, trust the owner of you and your stuff to provide in ways you have not imagined. One greater than Solomon…Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God, who leads and provides for you.
Fear not, even when the world seems to be falling apart. Replace fear of uncertainty with the certainty of Christ’s love in your heart. Trust in the Lord, who is your refuge and strength. Find comfort in His presence and draw near to Him in times of trouble. For He is the one who holds the universe in His hands, and He will never leave you or forsake you. Confidence and peace emerge from the soil of an appropriated faith; Charles Spurgeon explains, “An appropriating faith gains this confidence. Peace comes to me, not only by what God is but by what God is to me. ‘God is our refuge and strength.’ ‘This God is our God.’ You never enjoy the goodness and greatness of God if you view them in an abstract manner; you must grasp them as your own. It seems a daring act for a man to appropriate God, and yet the Lord invites us to do it; he says, ‘Let him take hold of my strength.’” Trust your Lord to lovingly lead you through troubled times.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3, NKJV).
Prayer
Dear Lord, I fear you alone and trust you to lead me by your love through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Appropriate God’s promise in your heart and mind to personally give you strength and peace. Write out the Scripture on an index card and keep it in front of you.
Related Reading
Deuteronomy 33:27; Ruth 2:12; Psalm 62:8; Hebrews 6:18
Worship Resource
Hillsong Worship: Highs & Lows / Eagle’s Wings
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