Where is God in times of trouble?
If you are like me, you have asked yourself this question at least once in your life. The bible tells us:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)
We are assured that in this life, we will face trouble. That knowledge scares me a bit.
A few years ago my eldest daughter was sick to her stomach and was crying from the pain. There is nothing like watching your child experience any sort of pain. Watching my daughter fold over in pain made me feel extremely helpless.
As a mother, I hated seeing her like that, and knowing there was nothing I could do to help her or to take that pain away. I felt so useless. But instead of being stuck in that feeling, I did what I could. I prayed for her and held her. She was lying in my lap and I covered her body with my own. I prayed over her and wanted her to feel all the love that I had for her. As I held her, I saw a picture of God and His love for us.
In that moment, I knew that God holds us like that in our pain.
Where is God in times of trouble? He is holding us.
God doesn’t just hold us in His lap or in His hand. He completely surrounds us with His presence and covers us with His love. I sometimes experience pain and I most definitely experience fear.
In those times, the devil loves to have me believe that God is far away and does not care for me. But, that would be a lie. I know from scripture that God is with me during my darkest hours and my longest days.
Where can we turn when we face trouble?
Any time I face troubles, I turn to the Psalms. This book is filled with people who have faced trouble and their feelings are revelations about God when facing those troubles.
One of my favorite psalms to turn to is this one.
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. (Psalm 46:1-11 NKJV)
How does this verse help us? I memorized the first verse when I was a teenager. I regularly quote it to remind myself of where to go to when I am afraid. This verse answers the question: where is God in times of trouble. He is the one who is keeping us safe. He is our safe city we can run too.
God is our Refuge
When reading these verses, I can’t help but notice God is described as a refuge and a safe place.
A refuge is defined as:
A condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. Something providing such shelter.
Psalm 46 reminds us that God is our shelter and a safe place to run to.
No matter what is going on in our personal life or in the world, we can run to God. He is our safe place. When we have reached His safety, He then gives us the strength we need to face our troubles.
In Old Testament times, when someone committed a crime and needed help, they had a chance to run to a city of refuge.
These cities were dispersed around the nation as a place people could go to and be safe from retribution. The cities were sometimes close, but other times they would be far and a refugee would not make it to the city.
God is Present
Not only does the bible tell us that God is a place of safety, but it assures us that God is present when we are going through trials.
Psalm 46 assures us that Jesus is our city of refuge and that it is not far away. It is very present. We don’t have to run a long way to receive help from The Lord. He is right there with us anytime we face difficulty. (He happens to also be around when things go well!).
Not only is His help right there, but He is also present no matter the circumstances of life.
I love Psalm 46 because it reminds me of where I can run in times of trouble and that God is there for me no matter what is going on around me. In the comments below, share with me your answer to: Where is God in times of trouble? And how do you know?
I am a mother of three and married for more than a decade. My passion is to help women build a stronger relationship with God through teaching, fellowship, and support. My goal is to see women live for God and to help them serve Him.
Leave a Reply