Finding Strength and Hope in Uncertain Times

 

Summary

In times of uncertainty and fear, Psalm 46 offers profound reassurance. It begins with the declaration that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. This psalm speaks to the heart of our anxieties, reminding us that even if the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the sea, we need not fear. The imagery of a river whose streams make glad the City of God symbolizes the unassailable nature of God's presence and the heavenly city, contrasting it with the vulnerability of earthly cities that can be besieged and destroyed.

As Christians, our true citizenship is in this heavenly city. Earthly citizenship, with its rights and privileges, can be stripped away by war, plague, or disaster. However, the benefits of our heavenly citizenship are eternal and secure. Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon on Christian happiness, encapsulates this truth with three points: our bad things will turn out for good, our good things can never be taken away, and the best things are yet to come. Romans 8:28 assures us that all things work together for good for those who love God. Our justification, adoption as God's children, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are treasures that remain with us forever. Even death, the worst that can happen, ushers us into the presence of Christ.

In this period of enforced stillness, we are invited to be still and know that He is God. This is a unique opportunity to cultivate contemplative habits, deepen our prayer life, and engage with Scripture more intentionally. Despite the busyness of modern life, this time allows us to step back, reflect, and grow spiritually. As we navigate this season, let us not waste our sorrows or confinement but use them to draw closer to God and emerge stronger, wiser, and more grounded in our faith.

Key Takeaways:

1. God as Our Refuge: In times of turmoil, God is our refuge and strength, providing a steadfast presence that transcends the chaos of the world. This assurance allows us to face uncertainties without fear, knowing that our ultimate security lies in Him. [00:28]

2. Heavenly Citizenship: Our true citizenship is in heaven, offering eternal benefits that earthly citizenship cannot provide. While earthly rights can be lost, our heavenly inheritance is secure, reminding us of our ultimate identity and hope. [02:35]

3. Christian Happiness: Jonathan Edwards' insights on Christian happiness highlight that our bad things will turn out for good, our good things cannot be taken away, and the best is yet to come. This perspective encourages us to trust in God's sovereign plan. [04:21]

4. The Power of Stillness: The call to be still and know God invites us to embrace contemplative practices, deepening our relationship with Him. In a world that values busyness, this enforced stillness is an opportunity to cultivate spiritual growth. [06:55]

5. Redeeming the Time: In this season of quarantine, we are challenged not to waste our sorrows but to use this time for spiritual enrichment. By intentionally seeking God, we can emerge from this period stronger and more aligned with His purposes. [11:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Trusting God in Difficult Times
- [00:28] - God as Our Refuge
- [01:03] - The Vulnerability of Earthly Cities
- [01:51] - The Heavenly City
- [02:35] - Our True Citizenship
- [03:18] - The Benefits of Heavenly Citizenship
- [04:21] - Jonathan Edwards on Christian Happiness
- [05:19] - The Joy of Knowing Christ
- [06:55] - Be Still and Know God
- [08:01] - Cultivating Contemplative Habits
- [09:49] - The Danger of Busyness
- [10:19] - Making Time for Solitude
- [11:03] - Don't Waste Your Sorrows
- [11:36] - Encouragement to Share

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 46:1-4
- Romans 8:28
- Philippians 3:20

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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 46:1-4 describe about God's role in times of trouble? How does this imagery provide comfort? [00:28]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the river in the City of God as mentioned in Psalm 46? [01:51]
3. How does Jonathan Edwards' sermon on Christian happiness relate to Romans 8:28? What are the three points he makes? [04:21]
4. What does Philippians 3:20 say about our true citizenship, and how does this contrast with earthly citizenship? [02:35]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of God as our refuge and strength challenge or affirm your current understanding of God's presence in your life? [00:28]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our heavenly citizenship offers security that earthly citizenship cannot? [02:35]
3. How might Jonathan Edwards' perspective on Christian happiness influence a believer's response to difficult circumstances? [04:21]
4. What does the call to "be still and know that I am God" imply about the importance of contemplative practices in a believer's life? [06:55]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent time of uncertainty or fear in your life. How did you seek refuge in God during that time, and what was the outcome? [00:28]
2. Considering the idea of heavenly citizenship, how can you shift your focus from earthly concerns to eternal values in your daily life? [02:35]
3. Think about a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you apply the belief that "all things work together for good" to this situation? [04:36]
4. What specific steps can you take to cultivate stillness and deepen your relationship with God during this season of life? [06:55]
5. Identify one area of your life where busyness has overshadowed your spiritual growth. What changes can you make to prioritize time with God? [09:49]
6. How can you use this period of enforced stillness to grow spiritually and emerge stronger in your faith? [11:03]
7. Reflect on a sorrow or challenge you are currently experiencing. How can you use this time to draw closer to God and not waste the opportunity for growth? [11:03]

Devotional

Day 1: God as Our Unshakeable Refuge
In times of turmoil and uncertainty, God stands as our unshakeable refuge and strength. Psalm 46 vividly portrays this assurance, reminding us that even if the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the sea, we need not fear. This imagery highlights the steadfast presence of God, transcending the chaos of the world. As believers, we are called to trust in this divine refuge, knowing that our ultimate security lies in Him. This assurance allows us to face uncertainties without fear, anchored in the knowledge that God is ever-present and unchanging. [00:28]

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him." (Nahum 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel most vulnerable right now? How can you actively seek refuge in God's presence today?


Day 2: Our Eternal Heavenly Citizenship
Our true citizenship is in heaven, offering eternal benefits that earthly citizenship cannot provide. While earthly rights and privileges can be stripped away by war, plague, or disaster, our heavenly inheritance remains secure. This perspective reminds us of our ultimate identity and hope, rooted in the eternal promises of God. As Christians, we are called to live with the awareness of our heavenly citizenship, allowing it to shape our values, priorities, and actions in this world. [02:35]

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: How does the reality of your heavenly citizenship influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?


Day 3: Embracing Christian Happiness
Jonathan Edwards' insights on Christian happiness highlight that our bad things will turn out for good, our good things cannot be taken away, and the best is yet to come. This perspective encourages us to trust in God's sovereign plan, even amidst trials and challenges. Romans 8:28 assures us that all things work together for good for those who love God. Our justification, adoption as God's children, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are treasures that remain with us forever. This understanding invites us to embrace a deep, abiding joy that transcends circumstances. [04:21]

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory." (1 Peter 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one difficult situation in your life that you can trust God to turn for good? How can you find joy in His promises today?


Day 4: The Transformative Power of Stillness
The call to be still and know that He is God invites us to embrace contemplative practices, deepening our relationship with Him. In a world that values busyness, this enforced stillness is an opportunity to cultivate spiritual growth. By intentionally stepping back, reflecting, and engaging with Scripture, we can grow spiritually and become more grounded in our faith. This period of stillness is a unique opportunity to deepen our prayer life and draw closer to God, emerging stronger and wiser. [06:55]

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.'" (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate moments of stillness and reflection into your daily routine to deepen your relationship with God?


Day 5: Redeeming the Time in Quarantine
In this season of quarantine, we are challenged not to waste our sorrows but to use this time for spiritual enrichment. By intentionally seeking God, we can emerge from this period stronger and more aligned with His purposes. This time of enforced stillness allows us to cultivate contemplative habits, deepen our prayer life, and engage with Scripture more intentionally. As we navigate this season, let us use it to draw closer to God and grow spiritually, emerging more grounded in our faith. [11:03]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to use this time of quarantine for spiritual growth and enrichment?

Quotes

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. There is a river whose streams make glad the City of God. The Lord is with us and he says be still and know that I am God." [00:28:00]

"It's interesting that when psalm 46 was written it was normal to besieged cities and sometimes you actually could sack a city you could get through the walls and you could defeat it. They surely thought it was exaggerating to say that the mountains could fall in the midst of the sea but today we do have bombs that could do that." [01:09:00]

"Every Christian is a citizen of some earthly City. I'm a citizen of New York City but every Christian's real citizenship is in the heavenly City so you have places like Philippians 3 verse 20 that says our citizenship is in heaven that's our true and most foundational citizenship." [02:32:00]

"Jonathan Edwards wrote a sermon when he was just of eighteen years old. It's the first sermon we know he ever preached, certainly the first time we ever had and it's on Christian happiness and this basic three points of his sermons are this: that basically three points were this: if you're a Christian you're back things were turn out for good." [04:05:00]

"Romans 8:28 if you're a Christian then all things work together for good to those who call are called according to God's purpose and we're loved by God. Secondly your good things cannot be taken away from you, what are those good things you're justified by faith you're adopted and you're now a child of God." [04:36:00]

"How joyful and gladsome must the thoughts of Jesus Christ be to a Christian - think how great a love Christ has for us, even to lay down his life and suffer the most bitter torments for our sake who also now continually intercedes for us at the throne of grace." [05:31:00]

"Be still and know that I am God and the women in my Bible study that I was talking to we had a zoom Bible study on Thursday one of the topics that kept getting kicked around was how can we utilize this time of quarantine and lockdown etc so that we come out on the other side stronger better wiser smarter." [06:58:00]

"I do think that what we have to do is we have to cultivate contemplative habit of habits it does mean praying more but I mean really learning how to pray it does mean maybe praying morning and evening it does mean reading the Psalms it does mean perhaps I'd hate to call it journaling." [09:06:00]

"We are the least contemplative culture in history people have no time I mean I read from Jonathan Edwards and I do know that Edwards spent a lot of time riding on his horse from place to place it would take him an hour to get to you know sign to to go see a a parishioner and on the way he would think and pray." [08:17:00]

"The big danger is where I still on our cell phones at home yeah and if you just so you'd be just as dominated you really do need solitude you do need to get you know into your prayer closet and this is the time to do it because we don't have the commutes we actually can make time for that right now." [10:00:00]

"I read a book I didn't mean a book I read the title of a book years ago called don't waste your sorrows right bye Paul Bill Hemmer I think it's funny and never never read the book never read the content because the title was so challenging I didn't feel I felt like I didn't really in some ways it's a good book." [10:40:00]

"Don't waste your confinement don't waste your quarantine get something out of it you don't just do it your teeth and say once it's gonna be over but find ways to use what you've been given." [11:12:00]

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Transcript
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