Nov_30_Advent_Peace_Psalm_46.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Run to the shelter of God’s presence

God is near in a way that asks for a response. The image is not of a passive guardian who acts at a distance, but of a shelter whose door must be opened. When trouble comes, the invitation is to move — to run, to enter, to press into God’s nearness. Practically, that means forming the habit of turning toward God in the first moment of fear, naming the danger, and seeking refuge in prayer, Scripture, or community.

This is not about earning safety; it is about practicing dependency. The shelter is ready, but the work of refuge is the work of the believer’s deliberate turning. Learning to run to God reshapes how anxiety and crisis are handled: the pattern becomes not first panic or isolation, but immediate seeking of God’s presence and help.

Isaiah 33:2-3 (ESV)
O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. At the uprooting of nations you will plant the harvest of righteousness; you will be far from terror.

Reflection: The next time a worry or fear surfaces today, what will be your immediate, concrete step to “run” to God (for example: stop, pray one-sentence prayer, open Psalms 46, text a Christian friend)? Do that now or schedule it for this afternoon.

Day 2: Strength for the storm, not storm removal

God’s help often comes as sustaining strength rather than instant rescue. The promise is presence and empowerment to endure what remains around us. When mountains fall and waters roar, the power given is for steady feet and calm hearts—so that a person can bear, grow, and sometimes even praise amid hardship.

This changes expectations: instead of demanding that every difficulty vanish, a faithful life learns to ask for courage, clarity, and the perseverance to finish the day well. Endurance is a spiritual gift and habit—practices like short prayers, Scripture memorization, and small acts of faith build the muscles that carry someone through seasons that do not immediately end.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV)
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.

Reflection: Name one ongoing difficulty that you have been hoping God would remove. What is one small, daily practice you can begin tomorrow (a morning prayer, a 3-minute Scripture reading, a weekly phone call with a friend) to receive strength for that specific struggle?

Day 3: Identity secured in God’s unshakable city

True security is not built on the shifting ground of this world but on the reality of belonging to God’s eternal city. The psalm’s “city of God” image reminds believers that earthly foundations can crumble, yet their deepest identity is already placed in a stable, unshakeable home. This perspective reframes loss, fear, and the urge to cling: life’s deepest loyalty is to the Kingdom that cannot be moved.

Living as citizens of that city affects daily choices: priorities change, anxieties lessen, and courage to act for justice, mercy, and hope is renewed. When life’s foundations tremble, remembering one’s heavenly citizenship anchors decisions and calms the heart.

Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV)
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Reflection: List three immediate worries tied to your security (work, health, reputation). For each, write one kingdom truth that counters the fear. Choose one worry and replace a typical anxious response with the kingdom truth this week (e.g., when you start to ruminate, speak the truth aloud).

Day 4: Let God’s river make you a conduit

The river that flows from the city brings life outward, not just inward. God’s peace and joy are meant to heal nations through people who carry and share them. When God’s presence refreshes an individual, the natural spiritual response is to become a channel: to invite, to serve, to speak gently, and to bring people toward the places where God’s life flows.

Being a conduit looks like practical compassion—listening to a neighbor, inviting someone to community, offering hospitality, or bringing small relief to someone’s pain. These actions are not mainly about fixing problems but about pointing others to the source so that healing and reconciliation can begin.

Ezekiel 47:1-5 (ESV)
Then he brought me back to the door of the house, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the house toward the east; for the front of the house was toward the east. The water was flowing down from below the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me, and behold, water was gushing out from below the threshold of the house toward the east, for the water was flowing down from below the threshold of the house, and going eastward...

Reflection: Who in your life needs the refreshment of God’s peace this week? Choose one concrete step (phone call, meal, invitation to church or small group, a short note) and do it within the next 48 hours.

Day 5: Turn personal wounds into wells of mercy

Suffering does not disqualify someone from ministry; it can become the very platform for deep compassion. Those who have walked hard roads understand pain in ways others cannot, and that experience equips them to comfort and guide. God’s comfort in affliction is intended to be passed on; the healed hurt becomes a place where others find empathy and hope.

This means viewing wounds not as shameful secrets to hide but as testimony of survival and grace. Sharing limits and pain with wisdom and humility opens doors for others to receive comfort, to grieve, and to find God’s joy even amid ongoing struggle.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Reflection: Think of one personal struggle you have endured. How could you use that experience this month to comfort someone else in a concrete way (a listening visit, joining a support group, writing a short honest note of encouragement)? Make a plan and take the first step this week.

Sermon Summary

In this first Advent sermon on the theme of Peace, we explored Psalm 46 and its message of God as our ever-present refuge and strength. We reflected on the story of the Sons of Korah, whose family history was marked by rebellion but ultimately redeemed by God’s grace, showing that God can bring peace out of turmoil. The psalm’s vivid imagery of chaos—earthquakes, roaring waters, and falling mountains—reminds us that God’s nearness and help are not about removing trouble, but about empowering us to endure and overcome it. We considered how the “city of God” and the “river of life” point to our true citizenship in God’s eternal kingdom, where ultimate peace and healing await. The sermon concluded with a personal testimony about living with Parkinson’s disease, emphasizing that God’s peace is real and sustaining even when troubles persist, and that we are called to bring others to the river of God’s joy and peace.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Nearness Is Not Passive—It’s an Invitation to Seek Refuge Psalm 46 describes God as “very positioned to help,” but this help is not automatic or distant. Like a storm shelter in a tornado, God’s protection is available, but we must actively turn to Him in our times of trouble. This means cultivating a habit of seeking God’s presence, not just expecting troubles to vanish. The peace of God is found in the act of running to Him, not in the absence of storms.
2. God’s Help Is Not Always Deliverance from Trouble, but Strength to Endure We often expect God’s help to mean the removal of our difficulties, but the psalm and Jesus’ own words remind us that trouble is a part of life. God’s promise is not to eliminate every hardship, but to be with us in the midst of them, giving us the power to overcome. True peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ who strengthens us to endure and grow through adversity.
3. Our Identity and Security Are Rooted in the City of God The psalm’s vision of the “city of God” and the river of life is a reminder that our ultimate home and security are not found in this world. No matter how much the foundations of our earthly life shake, our citizenship is in God’s eternal kingdom. This perspective frees us from fear and anxiety, anchoring our hope in the unshakeable reality of God’s presence and promises.
4. God’s Peace Is Meant to Flow Through Us to a Troubled World The river in the city of God is not just for our own refreshment; it is for the healing of the nations. As people who have received God’s peace, we are called to be conduits of that peace to others, especially in a world marked by conflict and division. Our calling is to invite others to the river of life, pointing them to Jesus as the source of true healing and reconciliation.
5. Personal Suffering Can Become a Platform for Ministry and Empathy The testimony of living with a chronic illness is a powerful reminder that God’s peace is not theoretical—it is experienced in the midst of ongoing struggle. Rather than being disqualified by our troubles, we are uniquely positioned to walk alongside others who suffer, offering real hope and understanding. Our wounds can become wells of compassion, drawing others to the river of God’s joy and peace that never runs dry.

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: Advent – Peace (Psalm 46)**

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### Bible Reading

- **Psalm 46**

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### Observation Questions

In Psalm 46, what kinds of chaos and trouble are described by the psalmist? How does the psalmist respond to these situations?
According to the psalm, what is the “city of God” and what is special about the river that runs through it?
How does the psalm describe God’s presence and help in times of trouble? What words or phrases are repeated to emphasize this?
What command does God give in verse 10, and what is the reason given for this command?

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### Interpretation Questions

The sermon mentioned that God’s nearness is like a storm shelter—available, but we must choose to seek it. What does this suggest about our role in experiencing God’s peace during difficult times?
The psalm and the sermon both say that God’s help doesn’t always mean removing our troubles. How does this change the way someone might pray or hope for God’s intervention?
The “city of God” and the “river of life” are described as symbols of our true home and security. How might this perspective affect the way a believer faces uncertainty or loss in this world?
The pastor shared about living with Parkinson’s disease and finding peace in God despite ongoing struggles. How does personal suffering become a way to minister to others, according to the sermon?

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### Application Questions

When you face trouble or anxiety, what is your first instinct—do you try to handle it alone, or do you turn to God as your refuge? Can you think of a recent example? What would it look like to “run to the storm shelter” of God’s presence in that situation?
The sermon said that God’s help is often strength to endure, not escape from hardship. Is there a current struggle in your life where you need to ask God for endurance rather than a quick fix? How can the group pray for you in this?
The psalm talks about not fearing even when “the earth gives way.” What are some “foundations” in your life that feel shaky right now? How can remembering your citizenship in God’s eternal kingdom help you respond differently?
The river in the city of God is for the “healing of the nations.” Who in your life needs to experience God’s peace through you? What is one practical way you can invite someone to the “river of God’s joy and peace” this week?
The pastor shared how his own suffering has opened doors to walk alongside others in similar situations. Is there a pain or struggle in your life that God might use to help someone else? How could you take a step toward sharing hope or encouragement with them?
“Be still and know that I am God” is a call to quiet our hearts and trust God’s control. What is one area where you need to practice being still before God this week? How can you make space for that in your daily routine?
The story of the Sons of Korah shows that God can redeem even a troubled family history. Are there patterns or stories in your own background that you want God to redeem? How can you invite Him into those places?

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Sermon Quotes

God’s protection and help during your times of trouble is very much within reach. He is ever-present for you, very near to be found by you. The point is this: God is very near, he is our helper, and we must turn to his help in our time of trouble.

Becoming a Christian doesn’t make your troubles disappear. What it does do is give you an ever-present help in your times of trouble. God’s protection is through Jesus, who knows how to overcome any and every trouble you face.

The help God has available to you right now is not a help that ends your troubles. His help is about giving you power to overcome. He protects you in the storm so you can safely pass through it, and he strengthens you so you will overcome as you endure.

Though the earth give way underneath our feet— though the very foundation of our life crumbles— we will not fear. We turn to God instead of fear. God is near, in a position already to help us.

Through your troubles, remember where your residency truly lies… it is not on this earth, it is in the city of God, with God and with his people; so, you are not alone! Your final destiny is secure.

My friends, God has placed us in his city so that we might bring the nations to this tree of life, to Jesus, for peace and healing. The river and the city of God is a place of peace.

Evil starts wars, our God ends them. Evil will never end a war, and this is something we need to understand. People who don’t have God, who refuse God, will never end wars. Even when they say they want peace, wars will persist until the Lord returns.

The Lord says, “Be still and know that I am God and I am the One in charge.” Your troubles aren’t in charge. Your storms aren’t in charge. The nations and their governments aren’t in charge. Be still— quiet your troubled heart, know that he is God, and just worship him.

Even though I’ve been hit with this— you know, this did not surprise God— the Lord has been with me and has led my life to this point, and he will continue to lead my life from here on out. The Lord is my refuge, my hope is in him, and he is my peace.

There is a river that brings joy to the Lord’s people, and I don’t care what troubles come in this life— that river will never run dry. I intend to bring others to that river of joy and peace until the Lord comes again to take me home.

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