KRISTI MCCOWN | GUEST

How many of us when we are asked the question, “How are you, what’s been going on in your life?” the answer is, “I’m just so busy.” I know that feeling as a mother of five, it’s one I’ve felt often. My husband and I are in the scattering phase of parenting where our children have begun leaving home one by one. We are down to just one child left at home and yet it is still busy!

In the chaos and busyness of life, I want to turn to God’s Word for comfort and truth to guide me. Yet, for years I approached the Bible as a list of rules—the do’s and don’ts of life—and believed that I just needed to do what it said; I need to “be good.” Of course, I couldn’t be good enough and so I often felt defeated. More than that, I treated the Bible like my own personal self-help manual. When I felt anxious, I searched for a verse that talked about anxiety. I did the same when I felt angry or jealous or unhappy. While the Bible does touch on every emotion I feel, the theme of the Bible is not about what I’m going through. I’ve since learned that God’s Word is not about me at all; it’s about Jesus. It’s the story of God rescuing sinful man through the life and death of His Son, Jesus Christ. However, God does welcome me into His story and when I learn about who He is and what He has done through Christ, it shapes my own story.

So, when I am struggling and reach for God’s Word looking for an explanation for the chaos of life and how to find rest in all the busyness, I turn to what I’ve learned about the Bible. The first question I ask when I approach any passage is: What does this tell me about God? Who is He? What has He done?

And when it comes to finding rest in the chaos of life, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Psalm 46.

 Psalm 46 and the Chaos of Life

Psalm 46:1-3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah”

Even when the world is in chaos, God is present. He is not only present; He is our help. God is our refuge in times of trouble. This verse reminds me that the Lord is my safe place. I can run to Him and find the help I need. This makes me ask myself, do I ever look for safety in other places?

Then Psalms 46:4 says, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.” This verse reminds me that earthly cities can be destroyed, but this heavenly city has the power of God’s protection and cannot be overtaken by anything or anyone. I ask myself: do I place my hope in things that perish? Or do I receive peace in the chaos by remembering that my hope rests in the wisdom that my citizenship is in heaven? Philippians 3:20-21 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Next Psalms 46:5-9 says, “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.” It was common in that day for cities to attack one another. The nations rage against each other. Yet God only has to speak, and they would be annihilated. But God’s people are protected because He is with them. He is a covenant keeping God, keeping His promise to be their God and they His people. I love this imagery of God as our fortress, so strong and true. But then I still have the question: what am I supposed to do with this knowledge of who God is?

Then Psalm 46:10-11 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” We’ve seen how God is all powerful. He rules over the waters and the mountains. He rules over kingdoms and nations. He also keeps His promises to His people to be with them, to be their fortress and place of safety. In response, the psalmist says to “be still and know that I am God.” I need that reminder every day that He is God, and I am not. He is in control. He rules over every detail of my life. He does so not from a distance. In fact, He is present with me in the busy chaos of life and in the quiet moments too. He is present in the times of celebration, and in the valley when I am in pain. God is my refuge; he is my fortress; he is my source of help.

God has given us His very own words, so we can know Him and the peace He gives us. Twice in Psalm 46, the psalmist repeats these words, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” In a world of chaos, may these words be the constant refrain of our hearts.

Photo by Miriam G on Unsplash