Our Refuge and Strength
Psalm 46 is one of the most beloved in the scriptures. It begins, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, thought the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
This Psalm is a reminder that even in the midst of this uncertain, chaotic and sometimes crumbling world, God is with us.
Near the end of the Psalm, the Lord speaks, “Be still and know that I am God…”
One year the children of our church read this verse several times, each time a little abbreviated, each time with a little silence for reflection:
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Let us pray: We sit now in your presence, O Lord, even if only for a moment. And we trust that you are healing and redeeming and putting our lives and even this world back together. May your peace rest upon us – and then reach out through us.
We pray today for all of those who stand in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. We especially lift up peacekeepers, aid workers and women and men in the military. We long with them for the day when your peace will ultimately reign. And we pray in the One who is our refuge, our strength, and our Prince of Peace. Amen.
Daily Message Author: Joe Albright
Joe began his ministry in Sarasota, Florida as an associate pastor, and it was in this capacity that he worked alongside the Reverend Dr. Roger Kunkel. Roger was a colleague who became a mentor and treasured friend. From Sarasota, Joe was called to Jacksonville, Florida where he served as the Head of Staff at Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church. Currently, Joe and his family worship and serve at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Switzerland, Florida. Full Bio
