“God is our refuge and strength, an ever- present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
I recently read a short devotional written by the late Rev. Donald L. Deffner. Rev. Deffner told of a great churchman who lay dying. It seems the man had been touring world missions when he had contracted a rare disease that left him almost totally paralyzed. He couldn’t speak, but he could still hear, and in an attempt to track his mental clarity, each day his doctor would ask him to tap a finger 50 times. This he did each day, with precision.
Then one day he tapped only 46 times, and they thought, “he is starting to slip away.” Then the next day he tapped exactly 46 taps again, and the next, and the next. Now, they wondered, “What is he trying to tell us?”
Finally, one person realized: “Forty-six, 46, 46! The 46th psalm!”
Rev. Deffner writes, “Here lay this great churchman, inert, powerless on his deathbed. But as he lay there facing heavenward, his finger was tapping out the faith-filled message: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble!” (Psalm 46:1)
Psalm 46 shows up in our readings on the last Sunday of church year. This is a Sunday that emphasizes the end of days, and the Psalmist goes on to talk about earthquakes, storms, turbulent waves, and wars. And, although kingdoms fall and the very earth melts away, the Psalmist states that we will not be afraid, for our God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
These past several months have been an especially difficult time for many of us, and for millions of people around the world, as we continue to battle the effects of COVID-19. Millions of people have lost loved ones to this virus. It has caused an untold amount of grief, not only from the loss of life, but also from the economic hardships and the day-to-day disruption of our lives.
Of course, even apart from the virus, everyone has their own share of troubles, perhaps it is the struggle of managing home schooling, a business, a household, or personal relationships. Even in the best of times, trouble seems to find us.
Still, God has blessed us with a beautiful world and each day brings new opportunities, hope, and promise.
When trouble comes, which it eventually does, hopefully you will reach out to your network of support, your family, your friends and neighbors, and your church, because God has placed these people in your life to love and encourage you.
And hopefully, like the great churchman in Rev. Deffner’s story, your ultimate source of refuge and strength is your God. Even if everything around you were to give way to destruction, there is someone there for you whose love, mercy, and forgiveness is rock solid. So, when you feel overwhelmed and helpless, remember the number 46 and do not be afraid, because God is your refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble!
God’s blessing for the journey,
Pastor Bob
