A week ago, I traveled to Georgia the visit my father recovering from pneumonia. I flew in Monday afternoon and called my wife to let her know I had arrived. She immediately informed me that our county was one selected to participate in a shelter-in-place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Right away, I thought, “I’ll visit my dad tomorrow (Tuesday) and catch the first flight back to California after the visit,” even though I was scheduled to stay in Georgia until Thursday.
As empty nesters, I thought about my wife being home alone throughout the shelter-in-place and wanted to be her protector. As I frantically searched the internet to change my flight, a calm came over me and God began to comfort my heart. I remembered, “God is in control.”
I remembered Psalm 46.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling, Selah (Psalm 46:1–3).
Safety in Shelter
The psalm starts with God is our refuge and strength. Upon further study, I learned the word Refuge is the Hebrew Word “Makh-as-eh,” which means shelter—free from danger.
The safest place for me physically during the coronavirus pandemic is in my home where I shelter-in-place free from danger!
The safest place for me spiritually during the coronavirus pandemic is in God! As I shelter in place in God, I am comforted by His word, I am empowered by His Spirit, I seek His will, I await His instruction, I experience His peace in the time of trouble. God is my shelter and strength.
You and I can have peace during trouble because we know God is our shelter. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say of the Lord, ‘“He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’” (Psalm 91:1–2).
No Fear
I decided not to change my plans. I would visit family and enjoy my full stay in Georgia as I had purposed when I left California. Why? Because God is my shelter and strength. And as such, I will not fear.
The psalmists speaks of not being afraid even when natural disaster occurs: “Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.”
Three Truths
There are three truths about God that can help you and me come to the same conclusion the psalmist does.
1. God is all powerful – omnipotent
Job, a man who had his share of trouble, said this about God: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (Job 42:2).
The prophet Isaiah reminds us of who God is and the benefit of trusting Him. “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall.31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28–31). You and I can never have a problem that God cannot address.
First, God is all powerful, second…
2. God is in control – Sovereign
God does not say, “I didn’t see that coming,” or “Oops,” or “My bad.” He sees all, knows all, and is in control of all. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.”
Does that mean God makes bad things happen?
Bad things happen because we live in a world impacted by sin.
“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned” (Romans 5:12).
Sin’s impact in the world can be seen in disasters, calamity, famine, wars, and other man made and natural catastrophes (Genesis 3:17-18; Romans 8:20-22).
God is sovereign and moves on behalf of His people, especially in times of trouble. He intervenes in the affairs of men and nature for the good of His people, even though the outcome may not seem good, because God is involved it is good—He is responsible for the outcome!
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28 NLT).
First, God is all powerful, second, God is in control, third …
3. God loves you – Agape
The Greek word for God’s love is Agape. Agape chooses to love regardless of the object of its love. There is nothing a person does to earn this love. God chooses to love this way. Many people call it unconditional love. As such, He provided the most significant intervention in human history. God gave his Son to take care of the sin problem.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16–17).
God loved you, but continues to love you despite circumstances, and there is nothing that can separate you from His love.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35,37–39).
I pray that you are encouraged and able to say with the Psalmist, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling, Selah.”
Until next time …
PW