Certainties in the Storm (Remix)

One of the certainties of life, is that there will be unexpected storms. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “In the world, you will have tribulation.” That’s the least claimed Bible promise I know. I have known people who have lost a loved one in a moment in a terrible car accident. There are others I know who have gone in for a routine medical check-up and left with a cancer diagnosis. Others, who thought their marriages were just fine, suddenly discovered that a spouse was having an affair. When tragedy strikes, when a crisis erupts, what can we be sure of? What is certain in the storms of life? Psalm 46 provides three certainties for followers of Jesus, three truths upon which we can rely.

Here’s the first. In the storms of life, we can be certain of God’s protection. The first three verses of Psalm 46 read : 1God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. 2Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil.” In the earthquakes of life, times of trouble when the mountains seem to be crashing into the bottom of the sea, Psalm 46 reminds us that the Lord remains our refuge and strength. It is in our relationship with Him that we find safety and security.  Proverbs 18:10 says “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” Even when we lose loved ones or face some sort of health crisis or have a tragedy with one of our kids or if we lose a job, it is the Lord who will always be there, providing protection for us, if we’ll run to Him.

Second, in the storms of life, we can be certain of God’s presence.  Verses 4-7 depict a crisis in the city of Jerusalem as it’s besieged by enemies, looking to destroy that city, once and for all. Here’s what the Psalmist says: “4There is a river—its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High. 5God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns. 6Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when He lifts His voice. 7The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” There’s peace in the midst of all this turmoil, not because the crisis is gone, but because the Lord is present in the storm. In the same way, in the middle of our personal earthquakes, we can have peace because of God’s presence. Sometimes, though, it is only afterwards that we see that God was always with us—as the Psalmist says here, it becomes clear “When morning dawns.”

I love the scene in the book, The Horse and His Boy from The Chronicles of Narnia when a young orphan feels that every misfortune possible has fallen upon him and from the darkness of the fog, Aslan explains:

"I do not call you unfortunate,” said the Large Voice. “Don’t you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?” said Shasta. “There was only one lion.” said the Voice. “What on earth do you mean? I’ve just told you there were at least two lions the first night, and -” “There was only one, but he was swift of foot.” “How do you know?” “I was the lion.” And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued. “I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you as you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.” Aslan was always with Shasta, caring for him, protecting him, just as the Lord Jesus is always with us. Sometimes we don’t learn what His presence meant for us until afterwards, but He is there, working all things for our good. So we can be confident and peaceful in the midst of the storm.

Here is the third truth of which we can be sure: In the storms of life, we can be certain of God’s power. Listen to Psalm 46:8-11: 8Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth. 9He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He burns up the chariots. 10“Stop your striving—and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” 11The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” The psalmist reminds us that God is powerful, even more powerful than the earthquakes. In fact, He is the one who makes the earthquakes. He can overrule enemies besieging a city and bring peace. In the same way, He can bring the storms to an end or empower us to endure the earthquakes. Therefore, we can stop striving, and trust Him.

More than anything, Psalm 46 says this to followers of Yeshua the Messiah: When facing the earthquakes of life, the Lord alone is our stability. We can be secure in the storm, because God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.