Divine Provision in Challenging Life Situations

Bible Passage: Psalm 46

I. The psalmist explains the situation around him and the people of Judah (verses 2, 6)

1. Earthquake (verse 2, 3)
2. Mountains tumble (verse 2)
3. Waves crash and foam (verse 3)
4. Nations in uproar (verse 6)
5. Kingdoms are overthrown (verse 6)

II. On the other hand, the psalmist explains what God is to them in the middle of their challenging situation (verses, 1, 4-5)

1. Refuge, strength, and fortress
2. Help in times of trouble
3. Provision for survival
4. Presence that provides security (cf. verse 7, 11)

III. Lessons from verses 1-6

1. What God is to you determines how you handle your life-situations
2. When your situation is much bigger than what you can humanly handle renounce your fight and turn your situations over to God
3. God has divine provisions that you and I need in our time of need and vulnerability
4. True peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of an unshakeable God

IV. The psalmist and his community were supernaturally delivered from their challenging situation (verses 8-10)

1. Their prayers became praises (8-9)
2. The fear turned into confidence (8-9)
3. Without waging a war, they were victorious (8-9)
4. A good number of life situations belong to God (8-9)
5. God brought glory to Himself through human predicament (verse 8-9)

V. Verse 10: Be still and know that I am God

1. Be still: rapha “let go” or “let go of striving”—take hands off the steering wheel
2. Release your control over the situation and understand who the Ultimate in-charge of the situation is!
3. One cannot know God’s power without giving control over to Him
4. The Assyrian king disparaged God; God’s response is “I will exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth”
5. When you loosen control of your situation, God takes control of it

VI. Lessons from verses 8-10

1. No weapon, conspiracy, system, or oppressive forces have the final say over God’s people
2. God holds absolute authority over geopolitics and personal conflicts
3. God’s agenda is to establish sovereign will over the happenings of this world. Therefore,
4. Focus on the provisions rather than the problems, i.e.,
5. Focus more on God by focusing less on your problems
6. Suspend all your routines and take time away for rest and renewal

VII. The disciples of Jesus were in similar situation (Matt 8:23-27)

1. Storm (v. 24)
2. Fear of death (v. 25)
3. Helplessness of their skills and knowledge (v. 25)
4. Jesus (v. 24): the DIVINE PROVISION

Takeaway:

Focus on the Provision, Jesus Christ, on whom you can cast your cares (cf. Matt 11:28)