ENCOURAGEMENT FOR DISCOURAGING TIMES

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1

These days, every time you turn on the TV news, you are reminded of death, devastation and disaster. These are perilous times. Many are hurting. Many are dying. The coronavirus has impacted the entire globe. Each day we hear sobering news about this disease and its effects.

It is easy to live in fear, worry and dread. We can easily be overcome with feelings of hopelessness and gloom. Many are discouraged. Some are even depressed. The number of infected patients is staggering. The number of deaths is heartbreaking.

To fellow believers, I want to give real encouragement today. We dare not pretend that this disease is false. Neither should we be careless about social distancing or regular cleaning. Yet I believe that the child of God should not live in the rut of despondency. Our faith is relevant for this time.

The psalmist conveys a message that we need today: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." What a precious truth that we need right now!

From this verse, I want to share with you three things that should strengthen our faith during this time of crisis.

1. WE HAVE A HAVEN

First of all, we have a haven. The Bible says, "God is our refuge." We have a refuge in our Lord. A haven is a place of protection. We have a place of security. No, we are not necessarily immune from physical pain, but we are safe from ultimate eternal destruction.

When I was growing up, my parents taught me to come in out of the rain. When a storm came, they knew that the safest place for me to be was in the shelter of our home.

We have a mighty storm that is raging in our land. Residents are challenged to stay safe in their homes. While I have great respect for those in leadership and the medical community, I know that the safest place for me to be is in the haven of Christ. I am at home when I am with Him.

2. WE HAVE HOPE

Secondly, we have hope. The psalmist continues to state that the Lord is our, "... strength." Today, the strongest words of caution are given to the elderly, sick and weak. To be rather honest, we are all weak. Jesus said, "Without me, you can do nothing." I need His help daily.

We have a source of hope for these tough times. It is impossible to watch the news and have your strength renewed. It is difficult to be encouraged after watching news conferences about this virus. Yet as I look up to the Lord, I find the strength I need when I need it. I simply can't make it without Him. To be rather honest, you can't either.

We aren't as strong as we think we are. In spite of all our efforts, we're not self-sufficient. We need inner strength that must come from above. Isn't it good to know that God supplies us the strength that we need?

3. WE HAVE HELP

Finally, we have help. The psalmist wrote that God is, "... a very present help in trouble." We have trouble all around us right now. God is a very PRESENT help in trouble. It doesn't do us much good if help arrives late. God does more than provide help, He is that help.

When you encounter problems while working on something, it is good to call a help line or technical support phone number. When we look to the Lord in prayer and His Word, we find the help we need.

Look to Him today. He is your haven. He gives you hope. He brings you help. Trust in Him. Abide in Him.

If you do not have a vital union with Christ, let me recommend that you turn from your sins and trust Christ alone to save you. The good news is that Jesus came to save you from your sins. He came to give you abundant life. Through faith in Him, you'll find a haven. You'll find hope. You'll find help.

In a time of gloom and despair, we find encouragement in our Lord. God is our refuge and strength. He's a very present help in trouble.