God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ” There have always been "troubles" in the world. From the time Adam and Eve partook of the "forbidden fruit," trouble has been the bane of our existence. The difference between our day and Adam and Eve's the that our troubles come in very different packages today. The challenges, temptations, vices, and means of "delivering" troubles have increased exponentially. There has never been a time in the history of the world when "getting into trouble" has been so easy, so enticing, and so "in your face."
In the 46th Psalm, the sons of Korah sing about God's power to help us in times of trouble. They speak of Him as a "refuge" or shelter from trouble, and the source of "strength" when we are in trouble-regardless of whether that trouble is of our own making, or the making of another. They even suggest that, in all of our troubles, God is "very present," willing and waiting for us to turn to Him to receive the help that He freely gives. And yet, one of the biggest "troubles" today is that so many of us don't turn to Him in times of trouble. Rather, we turn to drugs, sex, money, or whatever our personal "vice" is. The thing we seem to miss is that what we're prone to turn to tends to be the very thing that gets us in "trouble" in the first place. Thus, the wise sons of Korah sin, "Don't go down that same old road. Turn to God and He will shield you. He will strengthen you. He there for you in your time of trouble." Wise counsel, indeed!
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
