Psalm 46:1-7

“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” vss. 2-3

In recent years we’ve seen the country of Haiti devastated first by an earthquake, and then more recently, by a hurricane. Thousands of people have died and countless more have lost their homes. Calamities like this touch our hearts and there is always an outpouring of support and relief from around the world. And the disasters keep coming! Every year there are earthquakes in diverse places; and hurricanes, tornadoes, epidemics, fires, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, and blizzards seem to come with increasing regularity. Since insurance companies label many such awful events as “acts of God” we can even begin to see them as punishments and wonder if God has it in for us. The psalmist seems to understand that our planet is alive and not dead and that because it’s a living organism there is bound to be tumult on the land and in the sea. In the midst of that turmoil, because God is our refuge and strength, we are advised not to be afraid. God is not out to get us but stands with us in every time of need. We see signs of that divine presence in the awesome work of the rescue workers who invariably show up in moments of crisis to assist and serve. God is indeed a very present help in our time of trouble.

Thought for the Day: What is “compassion fatigue”?