God is our strength in times of trouble

Published 12:00 am Sunday, December 5, 1999

L’Observateur / December 5, 1999

DEAR EDITOR: In an earlier letter, I wrote of how God’s people whose shepherds had let them get lost, being attacked, their hopelessness and frustrations. I wouldlike to take this opportunity to reach out to all those who read, and possibly with the following words, especially at this time of year, will give some encouragement and understanding to those in need. In Psalms46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble…”I will follow with Psalms 46, but first I want to say that it’s a triumphant confession of fearless trust in God. Though the continents(self-restraint) break up and sink beneath the resurging seas of our emotions. Though the creation itself may seem to become uncreated andall may appear to be going down before the onslaught of the primeval deep.

The described upheaval is probably imaginary for the great threat of our existence, but there is a comforting declaration of God’s mighty, sustaining presence in our lives. There is a continual outpouring of thesustaining and refreshing blessings of God, which makes our life of God like the Garden of Eden. That is God most high. As each day approaches, andwe feel the attacks upon us, He helps being on the dawn of deliverance, dispelling all the dangers of our darkest fears, and we can rejoice. Adeclaration of the blessed effects of God’s triumph over all fears, pain and sorrow. There are no more attacks against us and we have universal peace.This is His proven climactic act of saving the birth, life, death, resurrection and glorification of Jesus Christ. And for our salvation, theLord Almighty is our fortress of peace and hope.

Now, Psalms 46:1-11: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore, we will not fear, though 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. There is a river whose streams makeglad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God iswithin her, She will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations arein uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts, the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see theworks of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makeswars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God; Iwill be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The LordAlmighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”From these words of the Scriptures, I pray I do God’s will, to touch that lost and saddened spirit; and to those of you who read these words, find it in your hearts to pass the peace and joy onto others and give encouragement, especially in the season’s cheer.

Robert TheriotLaPlace

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