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

— Psalm 46:1

Ann, a dear supporter of our ministry, worked as a nurse in a mental-health hospital in the Netherlands during World War II. She shared that as the war drew to an end, their hospital had to be evacuated to save the patients from extermination by the occupying Nazi forces.

This story would make for a gripping movie. Under bombardment in a freezing rain, a handful of young nurses had to take care of hundreds of patients with mental disabilities. The women worked hard and prayed a lot. Ann told me they had to fully rely on God for their deliverance. The evacuees finally escaped and were transported by train to safety.

Most of us have been spared from experiencing something so dramatic. Our lives seem to be much safer and secure.

But let us not forget how dependent we are on God. Today’s passage reminds us that the God we rely on is “our refuge and strength”—our help in every kind of trouble. Our situation may change drastically for the worse, but the Lord will always be near. Psalm 46 declares that even if continents break up and sink beneath the surging sea, we need not be afraid. What a powerful statement of faith!

No matter where we live or what kind of life situation we are going through, our souls are secure in the protection of the Lord.

Father, we thank you for being our refuge! When difficult times and circumstances come, we can trust in your faithful love and protection. In Jesus, Amen.