God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give 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 46:1-2
Earthquake season is upon us. Or so it seems. Earthquake after earthquake has rocked our world here in the San Francisco Bay in the last week. I have to tell you that when I sit down to breakfast, I’d prefer my kitchen table not to slide back and forth while I’m eating!
I know there are devastating earthquakes around the world so I’m not trying to make light of them. But when I count in ONE day the number of quakes that are 2.0 and greater just a couple of miles from me and that number is 23, I do get a bit concerned. We’ve had several over 3.0 this past week. The largest was a 3.6 just a couple of days ago.
What I’ve noticed is that most native Californians don’t seem to be bothered by these sorts of statistics. They’ve experienced quakes many, many times. But for those of us, including myself, who are California transplants, let’s just say we’re more than a bit nervous. Especially when we’ve felt quakes several times in one day.
When the house shakes and the household items start to rattle, I catch myself feeling afraid. Is this is the “big” one? What if the earth just opens up and swallows me, my family, and all our earthly possessions? Just in case you’re curious, I’m absolutely not planning to see the movie San Andreas. But what I do plan to do is “drop, cover, and hold on”.
In schools here, the students undergo earthquake drills in which they are taught to drop, cover, and hold on. If a quake hits, they are to drop to the floor, go for cover under a heavy, sturdy piece of furniture, and with one arm covering head and neck, use the other arm to hold on.
That’s good advice for physical safety. But what about emotional safety? How do we keep fear from ruling our hearts and our minds? While it’s human to feel fear, it’s possible to keep fear in check. I call it the “drop, cover, and hold on” principle. When we’re afraid, we need to drop to our knees in prayer, find cover in God’s refuge and strength, and hold on to His word of truth. Today’s verse tells us how. Psalm 46:1 says “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” When we’re in trouble and feeling afraid, God is with us. Always. And He is willing and able to help. The best way to realize He is with us is to pray. When we do, as verse 2 says, “we will not fear” because we’ve opened ourselves up to His love, presence, and power. We may still feel a twinge of fear but it will not consume us. Even “though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (or the San Francisco Bay), we do not need to fear. God is our refuge and strength.
What are you afraid of? Practice the “drop, cover, and hold on” principle and be free of fear.
By the way, experts say that the ground during a quake opens up into a big crevice only in movies and books. As for me, I’ll keep reading the Bible, the Book of Truth, and trust in the God of refuge and strength.
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the God of the heavens and the earth. You promise in Your word to be my refuge and strength. I claim that promise now when I feel afraid. Thank you for Your ever-present help in my troubles today. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Earthquake season is upon us. Or so it seems. Earthquake after earthquake has rocked our world here in the San Francisco Bay in the last week. I have to tell you that when I sit down to breakfast, I’d prefer my kitchen table not to slide back and forth while I’m eating!
I know there are devastating earthquakes around the world so I’m not trying to make light of them. But when I count in ONE day the number of quakes that are 2.0 and greater just a couple of miles from me and that number is 23, I do get a bit concerned. We’ve had several over 3.0 this past week. The largest was a 3.6 just a couple of days ago.
What I’ve noticed is that most native Californians don’t seem to be bothered by these sorts of statistics. They’ve experienced quakes many, many times. But for those of us, including myself, who are California transplants, let’s just say we’re more than a bit nervous. Especially when we’ve felt quakes several times in one day.
When the house shakes and the household items start to rattle, I catch myself feeling afraid. Is this is the “big” one? What if the earth just opens up and swallows me, my family, and all our earthly possessions? Just in case you’re curious, I’m absolutely not planning to see the movie San Andreas. But what I do plan to do is “drop, cover, and hold on”.
In schools here, the students undergo earthquake drills in which they are taught to drop, cover, and hold on. If a quake hits, they are to drop to the floor, go for cover under a heavy, sturdy piece of furniture, and with one arm covering head and neck, use the other arm to hold on.
That’s good advice for physical safety. But what about emotional safety? How do we keep fear from ruling our hearts and our minds? While it’s human to feel fear, it’s possible to keep fear in check. I call it the “drop, cover, and hold on” principle. When we’re afraid, we need to drop to our knees in prayer, find cover in God’s refuge and strength, and hold on to His word of truth. Today’s verse tells us how. Psalm 46:1 says “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” When we’re in trouble and feeling afraid, God is with us. Always. And He is willing and able to help. The best way to realize He is with us is to pray. When we do, as verse 2 says, “we will not fear” because we’ve opened ourselves up to His love, presence, and power. We may still feel a twinge of fear but it will not consume us. Even “though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (or the San Francisco Bay), we do not need to fear. God is our refuge and strength.
What are you afraid of? Practice the “drop, cover, and hold on” principle and be free of fear.
By the way, experts say that the ground during a quake opens up into a big crevice only in movies and books. As for me, I’ll keep reading the Bible, the Book of Truth, and trust in the God of refuge and strength.
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the God of the heavens and the earth. You promise in Your word to be my refuge and strength. I claim that promise now when I feel afraid. Thank you for Your ever-present help in my troubles today. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
RSS Feed