No matter what

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. - Psalm 46v1-3

I think we can summarise this is wonderful passage with the simple words 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble – no matter what. The psalmist takes the issue to the furthest extreme.

I love disaster films. In a recent one, '2012', the earth literally shifts on its axis. In 'The Day After Tomorrow' global warming causes the Northern Hemisphere to enter a new ice age. In another the earth's core shuts down. Great stuff and great disasters!

All of these take cataclysmic to an extreme. It is like what the psalmist says here – 'If the earth is removed and the mountains are carried into the scene (there is a great scene of that in '2012') and the waters roar and the mountains shake...

So what is the rest of the story when all of that happens? Even in the worst of the worst and '2012' and 'The Day After Tomorrow' and 'Deep Impact' and all the rest happen at one time we have a certainty – God is our refuge and strength. He is our very present help in times of trouble.

Of course, I hyperbolise, but so does the psalmist. From the little I know about Hebrew poetry I understand that is a common tool.

The point is pretty clear – God is our strength and our help no matter what comes our way. If He would be with us when the earth's poles shift don't you think He can be with you with that challenge you face today?