Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised the disciples, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). He prefaced that declaration by saying, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus also assured them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:.27). With His nearness, we rest in His power and authority over everything we face, and in troubled times, His peace comes like a river that washes over us.
The Secret Place of His Presence
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
We find God’s embrace through His presence. I can’t be in the bedroom when I’m in the kitchen, but this chapter reminds us that God is omnipresent, everywhere, present with His whole being, unlimited by time or space. Ever-present God is with us, always!
One of life's greatest pleasures is recognizing His presence. As the words of this chorus say, “Shut in with God in the secret place, there in His presence beholding His face. Gaining new power to run in the race, I long to be shut in with God.”
Whether through times of worship, reading His Word, hearing a sermon or testimony that moves us, or sitting at the piano praising the Lord, His presence ushers us to a “secret place” where He is near.
Troubles begin to vanish in that secret place, and God looms larger and troubles smaller. A line from the song Sitting at the Feet of Jesus says, “Where can mortals be more blessed?” Indeed.
The “ever-present” God is constantly and consistently with us. David experienced that truth. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalm 139:7-8).
Often, we don’t recognize His closeness, like Jacob when he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware” (Genesis 28:16). When the disciples were caught in a storm on the sea and saw a figure walking towards them, they were terrified and cried out in fear.
But it was Jesus, and He immediately said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:26). In times of difficulty, we, like the disciples and Jacob, can become more aware and anticipate the One who walks on water to come to our aid.
Being in the storms of life — losing a loved one, going through a divorce, money worries, or fear over the world's chaos — may seem insurmountable, like mountains crashing into the sea. But even in the worst days of life, God says, “Don’t be afraid; I am with you.”
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging (Psalm 46:2-3).
The secret place of God’s presence gives us the strength to face the day, accompanied by His unrivaled authority over every situation we face.
The Secret Power of His Authority
“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
As a parent, we have authority over our children. As they grow to be adults, our authority diminishes. A boss carries the authority to define work and hours but cannot dictate what is done when away from the job.
A policeman enforces the laws yet has no authority to direct our health. All human leaders have limited authority. But not God!
The supremacy of Jesus declares, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16).
As His creation, He rules over every trouble that walks into our lives, and His authority is propelled by His amazing love for us. His authority is always, always for our benefit (Psalm 46:4-6).
God’s presence provides what we need at exactly the right time. His help, pictured as a life-giving river flowing from His throne, is provided “at break of day,” at the perfect time, not early nor late.
The God who “lifts His voice; the earth melts” speaks life, healing, comfort, and peace. Demons tremble. Kingdoms fall. Bondages are broken. Dead are raised. And God is present with His help.
God’s authority speaks through His eternal Word, our Bible. We contemplated whether to fly from Arizona to South Dakota for our grandson's wedding in early 2020 at the height of COVID-19. Travel was discouraged, and sizeable crowds were restricted. We mulled over the concern of exposure.
As we prayed, the day before the flight deadline, a verse of scripture blazed off the page, "I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” (Psalm 119:45 NLT).
I quoted that verse in various places, from the airport to the wedding and back home. And we had a memorable family time, and His Almighty power kept us safe and well (Psalm 46:7).
This line is repeated in verse 11, emphasizing that He is Almighty over every trial that comes and in every situation. Reading through the Old Testament, God’s faithfulness to Jacob and the Israelites is consistent. And His faithfulness will take care of us (Psalm 46:8-9).
Time in His presence and His unalterable Word, tune our hearts to trust His ultimate supervision, knowing we are held in His hands, and nothing can remove us.
The One who makes wars cease, sees the sparrow fall and knows the number of hairs on our heads tells us not to worry.
The Secret of Peace Surpasses Human Understanding
To “be still” (don’t be anxious) is challenging, but remembering God’s purpose is for our good helps when we don’t understand what He is allowing, or why (Psalm 46:10-11). That’s when God says to “be still” and trust His ability to shepherd us.
Think of it. The God who created everything rules over every principality, power, throne, dominion, and yielded life, and assures God is working “all things for our good” (Romans 8:28). We can trust His care.
We may be disappointed when prayers aren’t answered in the way we pray. That’s the time we surrender to His will and purpose. Ultimately, we know His ways are high above our ways, and He knows what is best (Isaiah 55:9).
Being still and trusting His loving authority over us allows peace to grip us. Not just any peace. It’s God’s peace that calms chaos. It’s God’s peace that is beyond all human understanding.
Philippians 4:7 puts it this way:” And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Being still in His presence calms the heart and lifts our eyes heavenward.
The same Almighty God who “lifts His voice and the earth melts,” will take care of us and share heaven’s secrets with us: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:11).
The secrets of this Psalm — His presence that is always with us, the capability of His authority to work all things for our good, and the peace that passes all understanding — help us embrace God’s nearness in the hard days.
For further reading:
5 Verses in the Bible to Encourage You to Fear Not
What Did Jesus Mean That We Will Have Trouble in This World?
What Does it Mean That God Is Our Refuge in Psalm 46?
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