Peace in Times of Trouble
Riley and I had a big day today. After Riley enjoyed, a fun time with grandma last night, we left early this morning and connected with Charlie Simineo in Cheyenne for some of the Frontier Days activities. We went to the pancake breakfast where about 10,000 are fed three times during the ten day event. We then went to an historic re-enactment of some of the key historic figures in Wyoming history at the cemetery.
After lunch we headed back to Fort Collins and then to Lakewood. Riley was glad to be back home with his brother and sister, mom and dad and friends. After some visits on my way home, I returned to Fort Collins at 8 p.m. after traveling over 250 miles today. I was glad that I felt strong throughout the day, especially considering the early morning start and forgetting to take my lunch pills.
Riley and I took one last Grand Camp picture with our camp T-shirts.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes, or the mountains fall into the sea, even if the oceans roar and foam, or the mountains shake at the raging sea.” Psalm 46:1-3
When all that represents strength and security is shaken, those who put their trust in the Lord do not need to be shaken. This familiar Psalm affirms that with God as our source of protection, strength and help in times of trouble we can face any challenge or difficulty that comes our way.
As we move through the verses of this Psalm we see the truths that give us this confidence in the Lord.
God’s presence. There is no better place to be when trouble comes, than where God is. A child who is scared in the night, finds comfort in the presence of parents. As such, we see that our Heavenly Father provides comfort and confidence when life gets “scary.”
The imagery of Psalm 46 pictures the river giving life to God’s Holy city and then states, “God is in the city, so it will not be shaken.” (Psa. 46:5) Where God is there is security. If you have confidence that you belong to the Lord, He is with you. The Lord speaks to His people through Ezekiel and says, “I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.“ (Ezekiel 37:27) The Psalmist simply affirms, “The Lord All-Powerful is with us…” (Psa. 46:7)
God’s Past. God has demonstrated Himself as powerful and faithful. “Come and see what the Lord has done, the amazing things he has done on the earth.” (Psa. 46:8) The Lord has a “good track record.” We see in scripture God’s people constantly being reminded about the acts the Lord performed for His people. When we rehearse the power of the Lord in world history and in our history, it should build confidence and trust for every crisis we face.
God’s Peace. God’s call to us in times of shaking is, “….Be still and know that I am God….” (Psa. 46:10) When Jesus was with His disciples during the storm on the sea of Galilee, He was asleep, as the waves roared. It is a vivid picture of peace in the midst of a literal storm. Jesus was at peace with who He was and who was with Him. He was under the Father’s care. In the same way, we can experience peace in the midst of the storms of life, when we know that He is God, and He is with us, giving strength, protection and help in times of trouble.
As we keep these things in mind, we can experience peace in times of trouble. I am thankful that the Lord “always helps.” Sometimes that help comes in powerful ways and sometimes in ways that are more subtle. If you trust Him and realize He is with you, you will experience the strength and protection you need in the shakings and quakings of your life.