May 2, 2022

Rhonda Patterson
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.....Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalms 46:1-5, 10

Our world today seems to be filled with a constant onslaught of drama. There are opportunities everywhere to embrace grumbling, fear, anger, anxiety…to be offended, shaken, frustrated, hopeless, depressed. Encouraging, right?

Thankfully, Philippians 3:20 tells us that as followers of Christ, our citizenship is in heaven and this psalm reminds us that God is with us, helping us while we are here. No matter how unsettling things may seem, God is unshaken and we are His people. When I think about folks I know who seem to consistently be filled with the peace of God, I notice something that stands out. They stay focused on Jesus and the works He has for them each day. They’re task-oriented to God’s call on their lives and they don’t get drawn into the muck of the world.

Father, teach us to be still and know Your presence in a world that is continually stressed and changing. You are unchanging and You are our Anchor and our Hope.