My heart goes out to those of you who have been impacted by the recent storms and floods. I’m praying and trusting that the God of peace will be with you. Indeed, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
We’re living in a world filled with trouble. You don’t need me to tell you that. If it’s not trying to save your home from floodwaters or salvage some of your belongings, it’s trying to save your marriage or salvage a relationship with your children. Or maybe you’re battling an addiction you can’t seem to overcome or struggling to pay this month’s bills. Perhaps a health issue has gripped you or you’re crippled with grief and sorrow.
As long as this great big ball keeps spinning we’re going to keep facing hardships and difficulties. And might I say that even while Christians know that God is in control of all things, not only are followers of Jesus not exempt from trouble, but they are sure to experience it in this life. Jesus Himself certainly faced it, and so will we.
Yet we know that God is our refuge and strength! We know that He is our ever-present help in the midst of all the trouble. And we know that in Him we will be ultimately and eternally saved while He brings forth justice on the earth.
Speaking to His disciples right before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prepared them for the troubles they would soon face. You can read His words of comfort and encouragement, promises and warnings in John 14-16. But here’s how He concluded this discourse: “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The key to peace in troubled times is trusting in Jesus. That’s it. No magic prayer to say. No seven-step formula to follow. No purchase necessary. He is our peace. Real, lasting, supernatural peace. In Him we have it. Without Him we don’t.
Jesus has overcome the world. He has overcome by His resurrection victory over sin and death. He is unstoppable. There is no force, no power, no scheme of man nor design of the devil that can defeat Him. And those who belong to Him share in His victory. He is building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Though Satan maintains a measure of power to steal, kill and destroy in this world, his bite is not incurable and his time is running out. He will soon be “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
The great hymn penned by Martin Luther nearly 500 years ago says it well:
And tho’ this world with devils filled
Should threaten to undo us
We will not fear for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim
We tremble not for him
His rage we can endure
For, lo, his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him
Friend, I hope you know that our God is a mighty fortress! He is our never-failing defender. He is our banner and our shield. He is our faithful provider. He is our great deliverer. He is our light and our salvation. He is our strong tower. He is our rock of refuge and He reigns as King over all the earth.
Yes, we will face trouble in this life. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). But praise God, this world is not our home! Believers in Christ are strangers and aliens in this world longing for their heavenly home! That eternal home in heaven is promised by Jesus to whosoever will come to Him, repenting of sin and trusting in Him for salvation. It is they who find that no matter how severe the storm or how high the waters rise, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
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