“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Over the past weekend my wife, Susan, tripped and fell, causing a serious fracture and a trip to the ER. And my sister, Kathi, was crushed between two cars and had to be medivacked to the hospital with multiple injuries. These events immediately impacted the schedules of our family as we navigated through all of this.

Life can change in an instant

One phone call, one diagnosis, or one unexpected turn can leave you feeling shaken and unsure where to go next. But this verse reminds us that no matter what happens, God is our safe place, our steady strength, and our constant help.

He is your Refuge

When life feels uncertain, you can find safety in God’s presence. Just as a strong shelter protects you from a storm, His love covers you and gives peace when everything around you feels unstable.

He is your Strength

God doesn’t expect you to face hard times alone. When your strength fades, His strength takes over. His power lifts you when you feel weak, and His Spirit renews your courage to keep going.

He is your Ever-Present Help

God is never far away. He’s not a distant observer; He’s an ever-present helper—right beside you, ready to comfort, guide, and support you.

Therefore

When trouble comes, don’t panic—pray. Don’t fear—trust. God is your refuge, your strength, and your help in every moment.

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 NIV)

There are at least four things to notice in this passage:

1. Who? The God of Hope.

2. What? He fills you with all joy and peace.

3. When? As you trust in Him.

4. Result: You overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Susan and I planted a small flower garden behind our house, we installed a simple fountain powered by a small pump. The water continuously cycled upward and spilled gently over the top, flowing down and refilling the basin below. As long as the pump stayed connected to its power source, the water kept flowing freely — but if the connection was interrupted, the fountain stopped, and everything quickly dried up.

He fills you to overflowing!

When you place your trust in God, He fills you with so much joy and peace that it overflows from your life — spilling out hope, encouragement, and faith to everyone around you. Like that fountain, the Holy Spirit continually pours into you as long as you stay connected to your power source — the God of Hope!

Therefore

Stay connected to Him daily through prayer, His Word, and trust. Let His joy and peace flow freely in you and through you, refreshing others wherever you go.

“Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38 NIV)

“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 NIV)

A friend once invited me to visit his orchard. As we walked among the trees, I noticed that some were heavy with fruit while others barely produced any. He smiled and said, “These trees that bear the most fruit are the ones that have been pruned the most. They’ve been shaped to grow the right way.”

That image stayed with me. Godly wisdom works the same way—it grows in us as we allow God to shape, trim, and mature us. The fruit of true wisdom isn’t instant—it develops through surrender and obedience to God’s Word.

The verse at the top of the page gives us a clear checklist for recognizing godly wisdom:

·      It must be pure. Pure means not mixed or contaminated—having no moral failing or guilt. To be pure is to be virtuous, righteous, honest, blameless, and uncorrupted.

·      It must be peace-loving. Peace-loving means being calm, conciliatory, gentle, and seeking harmony rather than strife. True wisdom doesn’t stir up conflict—it restores relationships.

·      It must be considerate. Considerate means careful not to cause hurt or inconvenience to others. It’s attentive, kind, patient, and compassionate. Godly wisdom always values people over pride.

·      It must be submissive. Submissive means willing to yield to proper authority, to listen and learn, and to stay humble. Wisdom recognizes that God’s will is greater than our own.

·      It is full of mercy. Mercy shows compassion and forgiveness toward others even when we have the power to punish or criticize. It’s gentle, understanding, and full of grace.

·      It is full of good fruit. This refers to the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23 ESV)

·      It must be impartial. Impartial means fair and just—treating everyone equally, without favoritism or prejudice. God’s wisdom doesn’t play favorites.

·      It must be sincere. Sincere means genuine and free from pretense or deceit. It’s authentic, heartfelt, and honest.

Therefore

The next time you’re faced with a tough decision—whether in business, family, or faith—ask yourself, “Will this choice produce good fruit?” True wisdom doesn’t just make you look good; it makes you do good. God’s kind of wisdom always results in peace, purity, and fruit that lasts.

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Prov. 4:7 KJV)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” (Prov. 1:5 NIV)

“So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—your old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy. (Eph. 4:22–24 NIV)

God Grows Us One Step at a Time

Even though God could work a miracle and change us instantly, He usually chooses to work with us gradually—one step at a time. That’s how Jesus developed the lives of His disciples, and that’s how God led the Israelites to take possession of the Promised Land “little by little,” so they would not be overwhelmed (Deut. 7:22).

Both Negative and Positive Habits Develop Slowly

You don’t get out of shape overnight—physically or spiritually—and you don’t get back into shape overnight either. I learned this personally when my doctor told me I was pre-diabetic and needed to lose weight. It had taken years to gain it, so losing it would also take time. I made a plan and stayed with it. Over a year and a half, I lost sixty pounds—slowly but steadily. The changes came in small increments, but they added up.

Good Character Habits Take Time to Develop

Developing Christlike character works the same way. It takes steady, deliberate practice over time. Your character is the sum total of your habits. You can’t truly claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind. Your habits define your character—there are no instant habits.

Paul encouraged Timothy with these words:

“Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.” (1 Tim. 4:15)

Therefore

Don’t get discouraged if change seems slow. God’s work in you is not incomplete—it’s in progress. Every small, faithful step you take is shaping you into the likeness of Christ. Stay consistent, stay patient, and trust that God is growing you—one step at a time.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6 NIV)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Prov. 4:23 NIV)

The heart is regarded as the center of a person’s thoughts and emotions.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the word heart refers to the whole inner person, not merely emotions. The heart includes the mind, will, and emotions—the very core of who we are.

Believers are instructed to:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” (Prov. 4:23–26 NIV)

Guarding your heart

When Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote this passage, he was emphasizing the need to protect your inner core—your thoughts, feelings, desires, will, and choices. These determine who you truly are.

The Bible tells us, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7)

Your mind reflects your true self, not merely your words or outward behavior. That’s why God looks at the heart, not appearances. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)

Therefore

Keep your heart healthy by filling it daily with God’s Word and allowing His Spirit to guide your thoughts, emotions, and decisions. When your heart is right, everything else in your life will flow right, to

“For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.” (Psalm 37:28a)

Many Christians pray something like, “Lord, go with us today,” even though God already promises in His Word that He is always present with us, and that He will never leave or forsake us. Instead, our prayer should be, “Thank You, Lord, for being always with me!”

Here are ten verses from God’s Word that affirm His faithfulness to always be with you:

1. “‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
   (Deut. 31:6)

2. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
   (Deut. 31:8)

3. “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
   (Joshua 1:5)

4. “May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may He never leave us nor forsake us.”
   (1 Kings 8:57)

5. “David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.’”
   (1 Chronicles 28:20)

6. “For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.”
   (Psalm 37:28)

7. “For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.”
   (Psalm 94:14)

8. “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.”
   (Isaiah 41:17)

9. “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”
   (Isaiah 42:16)

10. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
    (Hebrews 13:5)

Finally, understand this:

When you pray to receive Jesus, He comes to live inside of you. Everywhere you go, He is ever present with you. That is a wonderful promise that brings assurance and comfort.

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16)

Therefore

Never doubt God’s presence in your life. You are never alone—He is with you always. When others fail, when circumstances overwhelm, when fear creeps in, stand firm in this unshakable promise: God will never leave you nor forsake you.

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15 NIV)

A Compassionate Surprise

At a recent fundraiser, there was a raffle with the proceeds going to a scholarship fund. The grand prize was a staggering $10,000 cash award. When the winning ticket was drawn, the winner turned out to be a business owner who had purchased many tickets—but instead of putting his own name on them, he wrote the name of one of his employees on every single ticket.

That employee, who was facing serious financial hardship, didn’t even know what his boss had done. He wasn’t present when the winning ticket was drawn, so the organizers called him on the phone and placed the call on a microphone for everyone to hear. As the news was shared, he broke down in tears of joy. The entire room erupted with cheers, celebrating the kindness and compassion of this employer toward his struggling employee.

That story reminds us of the heart of God. Many imagine Him as angry or distant, but Scripture shows us His true character:

1. He is compassionate

2. He is gracious

3. He is slow to anger

4. He is abounding in love

5. He is abounding in faithfulness

Now that is the God I know and serve!

Therefore

When you think of God, don’t picture Him as harsh or indifferent. Remember His compassion is greater than anything you’ve ever seen. He sees your struggles, cares deeply, and responds with grace, love, and faithfulness.

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” (Psalm 145:8–9 NIV)

“God is an ever-present help in the time of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NIV)

Susan and I love to travel around the USA in our RV. A couple of times, unfortunately, we broke down alongside the road—once when a wheel bearing caught fire, and another time when a fuel pump failed. But we had subscribed to a 24/7 road service, and when we called, they came to help us. Having that service gave us great confidence as we traveled.

God’s help is even better than that

God is not just “on call”—He is ever-present. No matter where you are, or what you’re going through, He is already there, fully aware of your need. You don’t have to wait for Him to show up. He promises to strengthen and help you.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

And it’s all because of God’s wonderful love for you!

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? … No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love … nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31–39 NLT)

Therefore

Just as roadside service gave us peace of mind that help was always available, you can have absolute confidence in God’s presence. He is with you at every moment, His strength is unfailing, and His love is unshakable. Truly, He is your ever-present help in time of trouble.

“The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” (Psalm 46:7 NIV)

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” (Deut. 7:9 NIV)

God is Faithful! Always!

People will and do fail you sometimes. It’s just the way it is. And if you aren’t careful, you could start to believe that God might fail you too. But God cannot fail—ever! It’s impossible because He is God. He is always 100% faithful, and He must always be 100% faithful to His Word.

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13 ESV)

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Num. 23:19 ESV)

All God’s work is done in faithfulness

“For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.” (Psalm 33:4)

His faithfulness establishes and guards you!

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thes. 3:3)

His faithfulness protects you against extreme temptation

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

God’s faithfulness brings you steadfast love and mercies, which are new every morning, and never end

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22–23)

Therefore

When people let you down, don’t lose heart—remember God will never fail you. His Word is sure, His promises unshakable, and His mercies brand-new each morning. You can build your entire life on His faithfulness.