God Is Our Refuge And Strength
A true fact about life is that challenges, problems come our way, unfortunately some of us think that being a Christian should exempt us from those challenges of life. Being a Christian does not stop you from being tempted, being in need of money, being harassed by a boss in the office or the like. What being a Christian assures is that you will always overcome when you are confronted by any of these challenges of life provided we walk by God’s rules. John 16:33, Jer 1: 19.
Challenges are going to come no doubt!!! So if we are faced with a situation that is challenging or we are even facing such presently, how do we deal with it?
We get a clue from this scripture, 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 shake with the swelling thereof. There is river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her and that right early (Psalms 46:1-5, New King James Version). It says God is our refuge and strength; that means we are to run to God for cover, to have strength not to be run over by our problems because a refuge is a place you run to for cover, anytime you encounter danger.
The scripture also says that it does not matter where and what time the challenges arise, God is there present (Hebrews 13:5). So beloved, God is even present to help you where you need Him most presently. Would you let him? Remember the three Hebrew children in Daniel 3:14-25, God was in that fire to help them out. The level or intensity of the fire did not deter God. Likewise the greatness of the problem will not stop him from helping you out. Even if there is no known solution for your kind of problem yet, He can use your case as the first as we see here in the life of the three Hebrew children.
We are told how this help will come in verse 4 of our passage, There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God. We take this to mean you are the city of God because the bible says you are God’s temple-where God dwells. So the city of God is where God lives and that’s you. What we understand this to mean is that there is a manifestation of God, which will cause you - the city of God - to have your problem solved, and provide joy despite the seeming hopelessness of the situation as it may seem or appear. So your challenge is to seek that manifestation.
Furthermore, you need to realize that this manifestation will only come while we actively pursue holiness, for the passage says, There is a river, the streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high, so that manifestation goes to him who is in right standing with God; someone who is not living in sin, a saved soul or the non-compromising Christian!!!! Some of the times this comes when you are personally studying your bible and God tells you from His word what to do about a situation; or through a sermon, it might even be through a song or an inspired speech by a brother or sister. God works surely in mysterious ways. So be open for that river the streams whereof will make you, the city of God glad.
Furthermore, it is reassuring to note that God will not delay this manifestation, look at the last verse of the passage, God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved…. God shall help her and that right early. If that manifestation, that intervention of God that you seek has not come, it could just be that the time for its manifestation is not yet, for there is a time and season under heaven for every of God’s dealings with us (Eccl 3:1). Let us be like Joseph and allow God’s work to make us ready for it. (Psalm 105:19). Or if you are not saved, you need to get saved to experience that manifestation or you might need to seek forgiveness if there is an area you realize you are not walking in the total counsel of God.
Remember, God is ready to punish all disobedience (help you out) only when your own obedience is complete (2 Cor 10:6).
God has not forgotten you, beloved, He is waiting for you rather to run to Him the refuge for cover, so He can help you and strengthen you to wait for the streams whereof will make you glad so you can know his deliverance.
Challenges are going to come no doubt!!! So if we are faced with a situation that is challenging or we are even facing such presently, how do we deal with it?
We get a clue from this scripture, 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 shake with the swelling thereof. There is river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her and that right early (Psalms 46:1-5, New King James Version). It says God is our refuge and strength; that means we are to run to God for cover, to have strength not to be run over by our problems because a refuge is a place you run to for cover, anytime you encounter danger.
The scripture also says that it does not matter where and what time the challenges arise, God is there present (Hebrews 13:5). So beloved, God is even present to help you where you need Him most presently. Would you let him? Remember the three Hebrew children in Daniel 3:14-25, God was in that fire to help them out. The level or intensity of the fire did not deter God. Likewise the greatness of the problem will not stop him from helping you out. Even if there is no known solution for your kind of problem yet, He can use your case as the first as we see here in the life of the three Hebrew children.
We are told how this help will come in verse 4 of our passage, There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God. We take this to mean you are the city of God because the bible says you are God’s temple-where God dwells. So the city of God is where God lives and that’s you. What we understand this to mean is that there is a manifestation of God, which will cause you - the city of God - to have your problem solved, and provide joy despite the seeming hopelessness of the situation as it may seem or appear. So your challenge is to seek that manifestation.
Furthermore, you need to realize that this manifestation will only come while we actively pursue holiness, for the passage says, There is a river, the streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high, so that manifestation goes to him who is in right standing with God; someone who is not living in sin, a saved soul or the non-compromising Christian!!!! Some of the times this comes when you are personally studying your bible and God tells you from His word what to do about a situation; or through a sermon, it might even be through a song or an inspired speech by a brother or sister. God works surely in mysterious ways. So be open for that river the streams whereof will make you, the city of God glad.
Furthermore, it is reassuring to note that God will not delay this manifestation, look at the last verse of the passage, God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved…. God shall help her and that right early. If that manifestation, that intervention of God that you seek has not come, it could just be that the time for its manifestation is not yet, for there is a time and season under heaven for every of God’s dealings with us (Eccl 3:1). Let us be like Joseph and allow God’s work to make us ready for it. (Psalm 105:19). Or if you are not saved, you need to get saved to experience that manifestation or you might need to seek forgiveness if there is an area you realize you are not walking in the total counsel of God.
Remember, God is ready to punish all disobedience (help you out) only when your own obedience is complete (2 Cor 10:6).
God has not forgotten you, beloved, He is waiting for you rather to run to Him the refuge for cover, so He can help you and strengthen you to wait for the streams whereof will make you glad so you can know his deliverance.
