Psalm 46

Psalm 46

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 shall 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.  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.  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.   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.

This passage flooded my mind today as my husband and I sat in the hospital waiting room with a very dear lady in our church.  This dear lady's husband had just had a heart attack and was in surgery.  The waiting room was crowded with family and many of them were crying and looking totally devastated as they waited to hear whether or not their loving father and grandfather had made it through surgery.  The look, the posture, the actions and words of this dear woman was so different than that of her family gathered around her.  While she was truly upset her husband was going through this life or death situtaion, she sat there peaceful and strong as she knew who was her strength, who was her help and who was in control of the situation.  As we sat there she asked me this question, "How can people go through times like this without the Lord."  She shared with me how she could not imagine having to bear this without the Lord holding her up through it.  She told me how she wanted God to heal her husband but if He chose to take her husband at that moment she was would be fine with it.  She truly knew that God would be her strength and help, no matter what He chose to take her through.  She also asked for me to pray with her that through this her children and grandchildren would come back to church and become strong in their relationship with Him.  We prayed and prayed while her husband was in surgery and everyone cried tears of joy when the doctors came out and told us that this man came out of surgery and was doing great.  When my husband talked to him a little later in ICU, all he could do was praise God for giving him
one more day to serve him.  Praise God!