Psalm 46:1-2
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…”
[or, _____________________ name your trouble]
The principle is that we can respond very bravely because God is right there with us (ever-present) and ready to help; we just need to ask for His assistance with expectation. That is how our fears will be extinguished–with our faith in His promises.
This scripture is Tried & True in my life. I remember many years ago, I was scheduled to dog-sit this huge and scary Boxer. He got loose, rolled in a slimy green pond then got sprayed by a skunk. He came rushing back to the door and I had to wrestle him down to put his leash on; then drench him in tomato juice to neutralize the skunk odor; then wash him again in sweet smelling soap (including his privates) and to top it off, the dog didn’t know me. I was petrified that this burly Boxer might give me a unholy hole in my leg. Thankfully, I remembered this Scripture and kept saying it over and over. It gave me the courage I needed to get the job done.
Another time, I was in a department store on a hot summer day. The store was nice and cool and my fingers shrank a little causing my wedding ring to become loose. Well, the unthinkable happened. While I was rooting through the shelves to find something in the way-back, my ring slid off. I heard it bounce off the bottom metal bracket. I searched high and low, deep and wide, leaving the shelves a disaster area…and nothing, couldn’t find it. Now, I was kicking into panic mode. Then I remembered the scripture and spoke it out loud to God with gusto, trusting that He would help me somehow. Suddenly, I heard some noise in the next isle. I ran around the corner and saw a stock-worker. I excitedly drew him back to my isle. Praise God, his eyes immediately honed in to the very spot of my precious ring where I least expected it to land. God used a special pair of eyes to come to my rescue. He is surely an ever-present help in time of trouble. I have relied on His help all through my life–in small things, medium things, and in horroring things where I needed miracles. He has never failed me. He is my strength when I am weak, my all powerful Lord and friend.
