Psalm 46:1-3 – 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. (NIV)

When my brother built our greenhouse, he was wise enough to put in a main support that ran along the ceiling from front to back. The winter a year ago, with record snowfalls, we really needed it, for even though we kept the snow and ice off it as much as possible, the weight accumulated, as particles seemed to stick more and more.

One day as I was walking by, coming from doing morning corral chores, something about the structure caught my eye. I stood and looked at it for several moments before I realized that the front wall of the building looked like it had buckled slightly outward. Alarmed by my findings, I quickly checked the back wall and discovered the same issue. Returning to the front, I climbed over several feet of snow to the windows and was shocked to see that the main support in the ceiling had literally blown apart under the snow's weight above it.

Fortunately, the greenhouse stayed up, and with some help and the fact that the snow was getting soft, I was able to pull the rest of the weight from its domed roof.

With the weight removed, the front and back walls gradually straightened themselves back up. When spring came, we were able to reinforce the roof, this time with a much stronger beam, as well as two supports running from the floor to the ceiling.

This incident reminded me of the times that we all go through in life, when one of our main support beams blows apart — one of the parts of our life that we really depend upon and wonder how we would ever stand and keep going day by day if we were to lose them — things like our health, our position, our finances, a spouse, or a child. When this happens, part of us can buckle, emotionally, physically, mentally, and yes, even spiritually.

Yet there is one support beam, on Whom we can always count to keep us standing and even moving forward, even if only one step at a time. That is God, for He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble if we will only let Him be. His Holy Spirit will bring us comfort and grant us peace and rest amidst the turmoil, darkness, pain, and sense of bewilderment that such times thrust upon us with all their agony. We can be assured that in His own time, He will repair our hearts and minds and souls, that we might once again stand firm and fully restored.

Prayer: Father God, we thank You that we can count on You. Sometimes, when things go terribly wrong, when things blow apart, we wonder if You care. We wonder if You are even there, for amidst such times, we often cannot sense Your presence. Yet, by faith, may we choose to trust and believe that You are with us, as You have promised always to be. Lighten our load, and strengthen our hearts, that we may be able to move through the darkness until the light of Your love and presence becomes apparent once again. In Christ's name, we give You honour and glory and praise. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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