Worship

Scripture

Psalm 46 ESV – God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Thought

I have a ritual before I can fall asleep every night: change into my pajamas, brush my teeth, and turn on the 11PM news. It’s gotten to the point where loved ones anticipate it—I’ll come out of the bathroom to find the basketball game or whatever sporting event the day featured turned off, and the channel turned to my favorite news station. It’s become a habit: in the car on the way to work I listen to the morning edition; throughout the day, I get headlines from my favorite news publication sent straight to my watch; and at 11PM I settle in with my favorite news anchors, whom I affectionately refer to by their first names, as if I’ve actually met them.

I know what comes next: anxiety, heartbreak, fear for my family, fear for my neighbors. I often cry listening to the news: for the children who have been killed; for the unwanted and abused homeless population; for my black neighbors striving to be valued and loved in a system where they’ve only experienced oppression. Through COVID, wildfires, hurricanes, oppression, and hatred, it can be very easy to ask God, “Where are you? Why haven’t you helped?”
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.”
“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations.”

God isn’t far away, he is a very present help.
God doesn’t tell us he’ll help us with our anxiety, he says we will not fear.
God doesn’t tell us to figure it out and he’ll help us. God tell us to be still and know He will guide us into action.

So today instead of reaching to turn it off when inevitably I hear about the next catastrophe, the next system breaking down, and feel fear and anxiety creeping back up in my heart–I will seek His presence, which is already waiting. I will declare that the spirit of fear is not welcome. And I will be still, and wait for His guidance to propel me into action and love. Prayer Response Let’s quiet ourselves before the Lord, placing our requests and concerns simply at His feet. As an individual in the body of Christ, ask: Father God, how do you show me you are very present when I need you? Jesus, what fear would you like to remove from my life? Holy Spirit, what would it look like for me to be still and wait on your guidance?

written by Rachael Boynton, Youth Department, USA East