When The Worst Comes To The Worst

When The Worst Comes To The Worst

"Let the worst come to the worst, the child of God should never give way to mistrust; since God remaineth faithful there can be no danger to His cause or people." - Charles Spurgeon

What causes you to fear? Of what are you afraid? What type of news would throw you into a panic at this time?

There is no question about it - Fear is a very real thing. It is a tormenting spirit. Most people - Christians included - have something that they wrestle with from time to time that causes them much fear and distress.

Yet, the Scriptures tell us - as believers - in 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

God is not the author or initiator of fear. Nor is it His will that His people be tormented or oppressed with anxious thoughts and worries. In fact, His desire is that they be fearless - even on the cliff-edge of doom. Unlike other men who quake for fear in times of great calamity and distress, He wants His children to stand strong and be courageous.

In Psalm 46:2, we read the bold statement - "Therefore will not we fear..." In other words, we won't be afraid - we will have nothing to fear.

By themselves, these words may not have a great impact on you, but continue onward with this verse and the next to get the full impact of what the Psalmist is saying here - "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah" (Psalm 46:2-3).

"though the earth be removed"

"though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea"

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled"

"though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof"

In the midst of all this happening, we will not be afraid!

Wait a minute! Our general, everyday fears consist of not having enough money to pay the bills at the beginning or end of the month...people not accepting us...not getting the raise or promotion at work...getting a speeding ticket on the freeway when late for work...getting a bad report from the doctor's office which would require us to adjust our lifestyle accordingly...someone rejecting us when we witness to them...etc.

But, here the Psalmist is talking about threatening dangers, physical commotions, and catastrophic events and prefacing them with the statement - "Therefore will not we fear..."

Perhaps we need to examine each of these four pictorial expressions to get the full meaning behind his words.

"though the earth be removed" - Though the earth would change its place, position, structure, or fruitfulness...though it would tremble, quake, or give way due to continuous convulsions - "Therefore will not we fear..."

"though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" - Though the mountains - the strongest, firmest, and most fixed, settled, and established parts - tumble, sink down, slip, or topple into the heart of the sea - lying buried in the ocean - "Therefore will not we fear..."

"Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled" - Though the agitated waters of the sea or ocean roar, rage, foam, and boil continually - making the most dreadful noise - "Therefore will not we fear..."

"though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof" - Though the foaming billows break against the sides of the mountains - violently shaking them to their foundation - "Therefore will not we fear..."

After reading these graphic expressions, you almost feel like commenting with the abrupt - "Yeh! Right!" or "You've got to be kidding!"

Here the Psalmist is painting the worst scenario of danger, disaster, and calamity this world could ever know. Yet, he confidently says - "Therefore will not we fear though..."

Though the world be falling apart all around us...our known world be in a total chaos...and catastrophic and disastrous events be occurring every where - yet he says - so confidently - that we will not fear!

What he described could very well be likened to a time of nuclear war...violent civil commotions...or great natural disasters occurring such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or tornadoes - where all creature comforts fail.

For most of us, these kind of cataclysmic occurrences are very foreign. Yet - before long - the whole world will face and experience them. The Scriptures say so!

The question is - If we - as a people - are frightened at the least upsetting news, how will we be able to handle the most horrific tragedies when they take place?

The answer can be found in the "Therefore" of the Psalmist's statement of faith - "Therefore will not we fear though..."

To what is he referring when he says - "Therefore..."?

Psalm 46:1 gives the answer - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

How is it that any people can confidently face the worst of times?

Simply because God is their place of trust...hiding place...and the place to which they can flee for safety in times of danger. All other refuges are "refuges of lies"(Isaiah 28:17).

For those who feel weak and defenseless, He and He alone is their source of strength. All other strengths are really weaknesses.

And it is emphatically true that He has been found or proved Himself to be their "very present help" - their exceeding great helper Who is near to them at all times and in every place.

Adam Clarke - the renowned Bible Commentator - described Him in this way - "He is found an exceeding, or superlative help in difficulties." In other words, He is always ready to help in trouble - always ready to help whenever we need Him.

Should we fear when we have such Power, Providence, and a Mighty Presence at hand?

Charles Spurgeon answered that question in this way - "Great men who are like mountains may quake for fear in times of great calamity, but the man whose trust is in God needs never be dismayed."

Have you made Him your "refuge and strength"?

Then you will always find Him to be " a very present help in trouble."

Troublesome times are coming to this earth. You can feel it in the air. You can see the handwriting on the wall.

We - as God's people need never fear - even if the most extreme cases hit our world.

We may lose many of our creature comforts and witness an astronomical change to our known world.

Nonetheless, we can forever trust in His all-powerful arm to sustain and uphold us.

God wants to bring us to the place of total confidence in Him - a place of no fear - no matter what happens!

Will you let Him do that work in you?

May God Bless His Word.

Connie

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