Daily devotional · September 11
A Very Present Help
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas, though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge.Selah”
Some days carry a weight of remembrance, and many people feel sorrow when they think of past tragedies and loss. This psalm was written for such times. It does not pretend that mountains never shake or that waters never roar; it imagines the worst and still declares that God is a refuge and strength. The phrase in Psalms 46:1 says he is an ever-near helper in times of distress, which means not distant, not late, but close. Fear is a normal human response to instability, and the psalm gives it somewhere to go. If today carries grief for you, you do not need to hide it or hurry past it. Light a candle, pray for those who mourn, and let yourself be sad in the presence of a God who stays close. If sorrow feels crushing, please reach out to a pastor, a counselor or a crisis line.
Also read
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”
Psalms 46:1
Prayer
God, our refuge and strength, be near to all who grieve today. Hold us steady when the ground shakes.