OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH

NOTE: Today’s SOUND BITES is excerpted from a letter Pastor Jeramie Rinne wrote to his congregation on Sanibel Island on Sunday following the devastation of hurricane Ian. It is a good reminder to us all in whatever storms we may be facing.

OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH

I haven’t had much time or capacity to reflect on the events of the past week. Most of my mental energy has been spent on trying to coordinate efforts, solve problems and find people. But this morning, sitting in my [hotel] bathroom office unable to sleep, I find myself in a rare moment of contemplation. I’m thinking about Psalm 46:

“God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not be afraid though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple into the depth of the sea,
though the water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with it turmoil.”

The Psalmist meant the roaring sea as a metaphor for turmoil and danger, particularly the danger of hostile nations around Israel. But this week we saw the literal referent for that metaphor. We saw the sea rise up and swallow homes, cars, bridges and lives. The storm cut the causeway islands in half. The incredible power of the sea flung boats and cars all over Iona. Ft Myers beach is completely devastated.

The Psalm describes an earth-shattering ocean storm. These verses will never again be an abstraction for us.

Yet we must not forget how the Psalm begins. “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” God is our refuge. No storm touches God. God needs no insurance policy because He reigns above the flood. He is the only safe place. God is our strength. God never loses power or fuel. The Lord doesn’t feel anxious or perturbed and has no troubled thoughts about the future. Our heavenly Father is not passing through phases of shock, grief and despair. The Triune God dwells in perfect peace, joy and delight at all times. He is not exhausted or depleted. A helper who is always found. Unlike us, our God is not helpless. He isn’t stuck watching the news, imagining Himself renting a boat so He can sneak onto the island and do something. He is our helper who is always found in times of trouble. Trouble comes and goes. Hurricanes pass. But our helper never changes or leaves us. Even when our future is uncertain and our lives have been completely overturned, we know these things about God. He is almighty, He is eternal and He loves us.

No wonder the Psalmist can look into the tempest and say “Therefore we will not be afraid.” The psalmist is not in denial about the power of the storm. Rather he beholds the greatness and power and lovingkindness of our Lord toward us. God is infinitely willing and able to help His storm-tossed people. The fury of hurricane Ian is a gentle breeze compared to the might of our savior God. 

-- Pastor Jeramie Rinne, Sanibel Community Church, Sanibel Island, Florida

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