KJV Ps. 46:5 God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved: God shall help her and that right early.
NLT Ps. 46:5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed from the break of the day, God will protect it.
It took falling apart during prayer in the shower recently for me to understand this verse. I can remember feeling the most helpless I have ever felt in my life. I tried every single thing in my power to change a situation but all my solutions had only made the situation worst. I was a total and complete failure. That wasn’t easy to say the least for me to accept. You see, I am generally a solution-oriented person. I have serious issues with problems that I can’t fix. They keep me up at nights, make me cranky and depressed. I also cannot stand uncertainty but my my total surrender to God has been a constant lesson. Sometimes I think God just shakes His head in frustration, ha. But I know that He continues to be patient with me and loves me just as I am, while empowering me to grow.
Back to the experience, in the moment when all I heard was the water hitting the floor, felt the warmth of my tears, heard the muffled sobs and the fast pace of my beating heart, I heard the words, ‘She shall not be moved.’ (It was an all out, “Peace be still,” kind of moment, I kid you not. I can now relate even more to that experience in the Bible.) The scripture seemed familiar but I didn’t remember the context yet it comforted me in a way I had never imagined possible in the midst of such despair.
That moment might have been seconds or a minute but it felt like an eternity. I found that my surrender in response to the word wasn’t lip service, not song-inspired but it came from a place where it was simply all I could do. I knew in that moment, between the sobs, that this was exactly where God wants me to be- this was where I have been praying for, absolute surrender.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
I didn’t encounter the scripture until after, it was a night service and someone exhorted from Psalm 46. When I saw it in black and white on my lap, I was dumbstruck. This word was real and God wanted to make sure I got it! I can only boast about His grace I tell you. This part lifted my faith even further, ‘He will help her, and that right early.’ (The shield of faith is something we take up, hence we say, “we lift up our faith.” See Ephesians. 6:16.) The problem is we want to determine when day break should come, when the situation should change, when we should get healing, when the money needs to come but precious one, He decides when morning dawns. Time is in His hands. He might be four days/ years/ decades/ centuries/millennia late to you, but He makes everything beautiful in His time, (Eccl. 3:11) wait on him. Let me tell you though, when morning comes, He helps and speedily too. Rest in knowing that if He died for you, He won’t let this situation destroy you. You shall not be destroyed! Be still, let Him show off His power in your powerlessness, His strength in your weakness, His glory in your shame. He must be glorified in the earth! You are made by Him, for Him and you only matter in Him.
The writer didn’t say that terrible things wouldn’t happen, in fact he even predicts them, the promise stands however, “the city shall not be moved”. The NLT version, says, “She (city) shall not be destroyed.” Why? Because God is in the midst, God dwells there. God is not just with you but in you. That is the source of your strength against these trials.
2 Corinthians 4:7-11 summarizes our life:
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
We die so He can live through us. Trials kill the tendencies of the outer man so His Spirit can manifest through us.
Be Still
The phrase used originates from the Hebrew word Rapa, it means, “to slacken, cease”, in some cases it means, “to be weak, to faint.” That is what happened in my experience, I gave up being strong and ‘fainted’ on the strength of God. I became weak so He could become my strength. Being still does not mean a lack of movement or experiencing auditory silence here, nope, it means every step you take is God-directed. Precious one, you need only be still (submit and obey His will) and you will see the salvation of the Lord. Until my deliverance comes, I am staying still and even if it doesn’t change, I rest in knowing that God is sovereign. I will rest in the arms of the One who holds the universe. I hope you make this same resolution.
I am so overjoyed you actually took the time to read, I hope you were encouraged. I won’t take so long to post again, forgive me. Travis Greene’s, ‘Be Still’ was instrumental in me getting to the place of surrender, take a listen in your quiet time here. Do remember me in your prayers. Say hi, so I can remember you specifically in mine. Richest blessings precious one, God’s got you.
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