1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (Psalm 46:1-3)
Our refuge and strength. There is a certain backwards safety in our God. When the storms of life are raging, He alone is our calm. Yet, He loves us too much to give us a life of smooth sailing. Sometimes these storms are created by the God above all. Make no mistake however, these are directed by love and not indifference. This is where the “strength” becomes so vital. If I am to rely on my might, I will fail under today’s circumstances. There is a holy courage in recognizing Him as our strength – as our unmovable rock. It is one thing to see God above the storm, and an entirely different matter to see Him with you in it’s midst.
Therefore we will not fear. This new year presents a million and a half opportunities to fear. If you haven’t already, you will be face to face with that which frightens you most. It is not peculiar then that our Lord commands us hundreds of times not to submit to fear. We must come to the uncomfortable conclusion that what we fear is often what we worship. Though mountains disappear, unfair kings rule, and innocence is lost, we are to cling tight to the resolve won by the cross and available to the saint. The Psalmist uses such a drastic example to show there is truly no situation worthy of fear if we are in His grasp.
It is a popular Christian theme to live fearless. Books are titled, sermons are written, and songs are crafted to support this. Yet courage is won in the quiet corners of our minds daily. We are faced with a silent choice to worship. Every groan and smile is granted through the perspective we take on this very discipline. No one is born fearless but is rather made so through the worship of someone greater. He is the one who gave Paul the audacity to stare straight into the abyss of death without blinking. The same God who parted the seas and granted the disciples strength to face the tyranny of martyrdom lives inside of you saint. With this and this alone, you can live fearless.
Matt simon blog 