"Be Still, And Know"

God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the City of God, the Holy Place of the tabernacles of the Most High.God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Psalms 46: 1- 5

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the Earth.The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge. Selah

Psalms 46: 10&11

There are times, on this journey of life, when we encounter trials, and trouble. Even as Christians, we are still subject to the effects of living in a fallen world. But we have not been left alone, and without hope. Our Faith in what Jesus did on the Cross, paying the price for our sin debt, and justifying us in the Father's Eyes. At the same time, we are Sanctified, or positioned,in Christ, for the Purposes of God. Often times, life situations rise up to test our Faith. God's purpose in testing our Faith, is in order to grow our Faith in Him. Faith to our spirit, is like air to our physical body, we can't survive spiritually without it. Similar to marathon runners training for a long race, and growing their endurance by pressing past previous limits to achieve further strength, our faith is also expanded by testing it's limits.

Today's scriptures, in Psalms 46, tell us, that in these trials and troubles, that the Lord is our very present help. Even in the midst of Earth shaking events in our lives, He is our Refuge and Strength, so we will not fear. We are told to show our Faith by our good works, they are the fruit of our Faith. When we live in fear, because of the trials we are experiencing, we are showing the fruit of unbelief. Being fearful says, that one believes the circumstances, are too much for God to deliver us from, or see us through. This type of fear, is terror, that paralyzes us from moving forward in Faith.

In Mark 4: 37-41, Jesus is peacefully asleep in the boat, when the disciples woke Him. He rebukes the the wind, and calmed the sea. He then asks them about being so fearful, and ties it to their lack of Faith. The Greek word used in this passage actually translates as faithless. They had Faith to believe He was the Messiah, but had an inadequate view of His Power, and Authority, for their situation. We can learn some powerful, Faith strengthening lessons, from the Disciples, both in their success, and in their faults, like here.

This test of the Disciple's Faith, provided a lesson to grow their Faith. The passage tells us after He calmed the sea,they were now, exceedingly fearful. But now the focus of their fear was shifted, from their situation, to Jesus. They were growing in their Faith, still having a terrifying fear, that in time, would turn to a healthy fear, reverential awe, of the One Who calmed the storm. They were in the sanctifying process, where their condition, is growing to meet their position. It's a lifelong process, and each test is an opportunity to grow, as we hold on to Jesus.

This life will always present challenges to our Faith, no matter what level of Faith we have. We don't go through them , alone or hopeless. There is a River, whose streams make glad the City of God. We have the Promise of the Holy Spirit,in us and flowing like a River through us. We can have the Joy of the Lord, because of the River of Living Water, flowing out of us, even in Earth shaking trials. We can rejoice , even in our troubling times, knowing that He That is in us, is greater than he that is in the world, and our circumstances. The same Spirit, that raised Jesus from the dead, makes us alive, empowers us to live victorious, overcoming lives. When the stress, chaos, struggles and storms of life, come against you, listen for the voice, that says, often quietly, "Be still and know that I Am God."