INTRODUCTION:
A. We live in troublesome times.
B. Others have faced seriously challenges.
1. Thomas Paine: “These are the times that try men’s souls.”
2. “The Greatest Generation” faced the Great Depression and WWII.
C. King Hezekiah faced an Assyrian invasion (2 Kgs. 18-19; 2 Chr. 31:20-32:23; Is. 36-37).
1. When Hezekiah turned to God in prayer, the Lord delivered the people.
2. This may be the event preceding the writing of the 46th Psalm.
3. How can we deal with troublesome times?
I. WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS PRESENT.
A. “Where is God in this crisis?”
B. He is our refuge (Ps. 46:1; 62:7-8).
C. He is our strength (Ps. 46:1; Is. 40:29, 31).
D. He is a very present help (Ps. 46:1; 94:17; 121:1-2).
E. Therefore, we will not fear (Ps. 46:2-3).
II. WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ON OUR SIDE.
A. The city of God (Ps. 46:4-5; 7-8)
B. He fights for us (Ps. 46:5-6; Dan. 2:21; Ps. 46:8).
C. He will be exalted (Ps. 46:10; Hb. 13:5-6).
III. WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR TRUST.
A. God is worthy of our trust in every circumstance.
B. “We will not fear!” is an expression of trust.
C. God is in our midst.
CONCLUSION:
A. “Cease striving and know that I am God!” (Ps. 46:10).
B. Where was God when the Israelites were in a tight place? (Ex. 14:13-14).
C. We “overwhelmingly conquer” because God is present, by our side, and worthy of our trust (Rm. 8:37).