Ever-Present Help

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

This past week has been heavy with holy farewells. We celebrated the life of our oldest living saint, just days shy of her 103rd birthday. Days later, I attended a funeral mass for a friend mourning her mother. Then, another beloved friend transitioned to her heavenly rest. The grief is layered, the ache real. And yet, in the midst of sorrow, the comfort of the promise in today’s verse whispers a steady truth.

This verse doesn’t promise the absence of trouble—it promises the presence of God within it. Whether the trouble is fresh grief, quiet anxiety, or the slow unraveling of certainty, God is our refuge. A shelter we can run to. A strength we can lean on.

Later in verse 10, we hear another invitation: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Stillness doesn’t mean passivity. It means trust. It means letting go of the need to fix, explain, or carry everything alone. It means resting in the One who holds us.

Other scriptures echo this promise:

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus promises, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

Elsewhere in the psalms, David writes, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Today, whatever trouble you are in, whatever trial you face, carry this eternal promise with you: “God is our refuge and strength.” Let it echo in your heart when the world feels unsteady.

God of refuge, in the swirl of sorrow and the weight of loss, we turn to You. Be our strength when we are weak. Be our shelter when the winds of grief blow strong. Teach us to be still, to trust, to rest in Your presence. Hold us close, and remind us that even in trouble, we are never alone. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim