Giving Thanks In The Storm

Introduction

We are approaching the Thanksgiving Season.

It’s a time of the year when we pause to give thanks to God for our many blessings.

This has been a difficult year for my family, and I know it has for some of you as well.

Dr. Cagle used to say that there were times that he felt like if someone were flying over in a plane and accidently dropped a brick it would hit him right in the head.

It’s really been that kind of year for Sandy and I.

Things that were supposed to work, haven’t; and things that were supposed to be safe guarded against have happened.

In fact, if you only looked at the circumstances, there doesn’t seem to be much reason to give thanks this year.

How do you give thanks when it seems that your entire world is disintegration in front of you?

How do you celebrate the holiday season when you’ve done everything you know to do, but everything is falling apart anyway?

How can you give thanks when your whole world is disintegrating right in front of you?

The Natural Disaster

The Natural Disaster

Psalm 46:1–3 ESV

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Psalm 46:7 ESV

7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

In these verses we see the calamity of natural disasters.

Specifically, psalmist is describing the effects of an earth quake.

The picture is that of being caught in a situation in which you are helpless.

You can do nothing.

You can’t hide inside a shelter because it might collapse on you.

You can’t call out for help because nobody can stop the quake.

You cant’t even run because the very ground under your feet is violently shaking.

In fact, the only thing that is going to make any difference is the preserving grace of God.

God is our refuge and strength.

God is our very present help in the time of trouble.

War

Psalms 46:4-

Psalm 46:4–7 ESV

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, had gathered a huge army and come against the Israelites.

There was no hope of defeating this army with the forces that Israel had to defend itself.

Sennacherib was not interested in treaties, negotiations, or compromises.

What do you do when faced with a militarily superior force that’s interested in nothing but wiping you out?

There is political upheaval.

Even the very structure of nations is unstable and can’t be counted on.

Will you survive or will you be conquered?

Even when the enemies rage and the heathen roars seeking our very destruction, there is still a river whose streams make glad the city of God.

He is in the city, and it shall not be over run.

The Lord of hosts is with us.

The God of Jacob is our fortress.

People Plotting Your Destruction

Psalm 46:8–11 ESV

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalms 46:8-

The enemy may plan our destruction.

He can gather his mighty warriors and his untold numbers.

He can make his preparations and amass terrible stockpiles of weaponry.

Ah, but come behold the works of our God.

He shatters the spears.

He burns the chariots of the enemy.

In the end, it is God that will be exalted among the nations.

It is God that will be praised in all the earth.

Our King will reign victorious, and we are hidden in Him.

The God of Jacob is our fortress, and He will not be shaken or moved.

Conclusion

It may seem that you have no reason to give thanks this year.

Like the very ground has ripped from underneath from beneath your feet.

Nothing is as you thought it was.

Nothing will ever be the same again.

There is nothing you can say to change the situation.

There is nowhere to run or hide.

God is our refuge and strength.

He is a very present help in the time of trouble.

If you are hidden in Christ, you are safe.

You are secure.

You are no cast adrift by the circumstances of this world because Christ is the anchor that holds you.

Because of this....we can give thanks even in the very midst of the mighty mountains being shaken into the sea.

Proverbs 18:10 ESV

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.