We find ourselves going through something that none of us have ever gone through before, a world-wide pandemic. It definitely makes for times of uncertainty. There are many things to be uncertain about and we have many questions. Will I contact the COVID-19 virus? Will my family be okay through this crisis? How will my job be affected? Is my retirement account going to bounce back? When will things get back to normal? When will our church be able to resume public services? There are so many questions and not very many answers at present.
One answer that we do have and one thing that we can be confident about is God’s protection and power for His people. Psalm 46:1-3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” God Himself is a place of refuge and a strength for us. Not God and something else but God alone. He is a help to us now! Whether it be the current virus or some other difficulty we are going through, God is here to help us at this present time. The psalmist used the logic of faith; if God is our refuge, strength and help, there is not a logical reason to fear. No matter the circumstance; the earth be removed, the mountains carried into the sea, the waters roar, or the mountains shake, God is greater than them all and He will take care of His children.
Verse 3 ends with the word “Selah”. Selah is likely to mean “to praise” or “pause and reflect upon what has just been said.” Let’s all take the time to praise God for His protection and reflect on the fact that God is our refuge and strength. That He is a very present help and we have no need to fear.
As I thought about this psalm, I also thought about the old Dottie Rambo song, “Sheltered In the Arms of God”. The chorus says, “So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise, they don’t worry me for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me and naught of earth shall harm me for I’m sheltered in the arms of God.”