God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Devotion based on Psalm 46:1

The story is told that when times were dark, when persecution was intense, when the enemies of truth appeared to triumph, Martin Luther would gather his fellow reformers. He would urge them, “Come, let us sing the 46th Psalm.” Eventually, Luther took the words of that psalm and composed one of the greatest hymns of the Lutheran church— “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

As we seek to be courageous witnesses for Christ, where can we go when things get bad, when times get dark, when the opposition to Christ and his Word gets so bad that the enemies of truth seem to triumph? As Luther explains in his hymn, “With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected…” (Christian Worship 863:2) If it were up to us and our ability, the battle would be over before it even started. Satan and the sinful world would be able to claim victory without a fight.

“But for us fights the valiant one whom God himself elected. You ask, ‘Who is this?’ Jesus Christ it is, the almighty Lord, and there’s no other God; he holds the field forever.” (Christian Worship 863:2) The courageous witness need not be afraid, because it’s not up to us to fight for Christ. It is not up to us to preserve the gospel or the Christian church. We have One who already preserves the Word, the Church, and us—the almighty Lord who “holds the field forever.”

When times get dark, when the opposition of loved ones, coworkers, or classmates gets bad, the enemies of the truth seem to triumph. Where will we find a mighty fortress that not even Satan can destroy? We look to our God who is “an ever-present help in trouble.” We look to Christ, who has already won by his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. Then we will see every one of Satan’s terrible attacks crash against that mighty fortress and disappear like so many waves. “The God of Jacob is our fortress!” (Psalm 46:11)

Prayer: