The Greatness Of Our God

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1

It seems as if in this day and time the name of Satan’s game’ is, ‘trouble.’ Every day we wake to a new troubling scenario – a new war, a new natural disaster, a new political disaster, personal grief and hurts. All is because, Satan, the old serpent and deceiver, tempted Adam and Eve with sin, they fell into his trap and consequently and subsequently all of mankind has to face a troubled world filled with temptations, sin and separation from God.

The scriptures are very descriptive of Satan, the devil. He is the prince of this world (Jn.16:11), the prince of the power of the air (Eph.2:2), the accuser of the brethren (Rev.12:10), the old serpent and the deceiver (Rev.12:9), father of lies (John 8:44), ruler of the darkness (Eph.6:12), tempter (Matt.4:3), unclean spirit (Matt.12:43),
the wicked one (Matt.13:19, 38), the god of this world (II Cor.4:4), and many more horrible names which are characteristic of his attributes. You can have your pick of a name or maybe all of them, which describe how he has tripped you up or in which he may still hold you captive.

In John 10:10 it says that the thief (Satan) comes to steal from God’s children. To steal our peace, joy, love, sufficiency, health and everything that will make our life enjoyable. He also comes to kill us, to take our life, if possible. But our life is in God’s hand and only with His permission could Satan take our life (Job 1:6-12). Satan also comes to destroy us – our hope, our witness, our influence, our relationships and everything that has to do with our relationship with Christ. Satan came to make trouble for mankind, because we are God’s creation, made in His image and he hates God, and subsequently us. Satan will do all he can to hurt God so he does all he can to God’s beloved children to hurt them and turn them against the Father.

But, THERE IS HOPE! His name is JESUS! Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have tribulation (trouble), but take courage and be undaunted, for I have overcome this world. I have deprived it of its power to harm you and I have conquered it for you” (Amp). Satan is a defeated foe, and “greater and mightier is He that is within us than he that is in the world” (I Jn.4:4)! God is El Elyon, the God most High, the Strongest strong One, the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of kings! No power or trouble can snatch us out of His hand (Jn.10:29). By shifting the weight of our trouble off our shoulders onto God’s we find we have a wonderful resting place (I Pet.5:7)!

While Satan came to do his works of stealing, killing and destroying, Jesus came that we might have life and life more abundant, until it overflows (Jn.10:10). He came to destroy the works of the devil (I Jn.3:8). He came to bear witness of the Truth (Jn.18:37) and, among other things, He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Remember, Jesus is a “present help” – Jehovah-Shammah – He is here (whenever, wherever). He has promised to never, no never leave us nor forsake us (Heb.13:5). Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to comfort, guide us and to illuminate the Truth to us. How Great is our God!

In these troubled times God is “shaking all that can be shaken” (Heb.12:27), literally and spiritually. Consider the historic earthquake in Japan; Arab regimes are toppling across the Middle East; economic fears in country after country; wars and rumors of wars around the world; families and individual crises; stress; depression and troubles unimaginable and overwhelming. Jesus said, “When we see these things begin to occur, lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).

Whenever we face deep troubles, our enemy, the devil, pushes right in to take advantage of our weakness and vulnerability. He comes in like a flood to overwhelm and overcome us. He usually uses fear as his weapon to make us doubt God’s ability, willingness and power to keep us and provide for our needs. When fear knocks at the door, let faith answer. Our Great God is mightier than any flood of troubles.

To be victorious over any trouble or problem we must build up our faith in the One Who has the answers and knows the way through the wilderness. Our faith is built up by hearing (ingesting, believing and practicing) the Word of God. Find the promises that apply to your trouble, study, meditate on them and then pray them in faith believing. Believe that God is great, that He is faithful and that He is good. Watch our great God show Himself mighty on your behalf! He has a reward waiting for you when you go to Him believing that He is God and diligently seek Him (Heb.11:6). He rewards you with strength to go through any trouble (Phil.4:13), and He will make a way out that you may be capable, strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently (I Cor.10:13). He rewards you with counsel and direction (Prov.3:5-6). He rewards you with joy and peace as you expect, look for and hope in Him, then you will rise above your trouble as on eagle’s wings, you will run and not be weary, you will walk and not faint (Isa.40:31).

Trouble can be a friend, because it causes us to seek God with all our hearts, it causes us to exercise our faith, and it brings us great joy as we see our God work His mighty wonders on our behalf. We should be full of joy in our troubles knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance develops maturity of character. And character of this sort produces the habit of joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Rom.5:3-5 Amp.).

In trouble the greatness of God’s mercy, blessings and His goodness is shown to be all we need to be an over-comer. Since we know as long as we are in this world we will have trouble we should be glad and rejoice and be exceeding glad that your name is written in heaven and we have hope after this world with its troubles!