A Sheep of the Shepherd

Robert Doisneau

Psalm 46 Good News Translation (GNT)

God Is with Us[a]

46 God is our shelter and strength,

    always ready to help in times of trouble.

2 So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken

    and mountains fall into the ocean depths;

3 even if the seas roar and rage,

    and the hills are shaken by the violence.

4 There is a river that brings joy to the city of God,

    to the sacred house of the Most High.

5 God is in that city, and it will never be destroyed;

    at early dawn he will come to its aid.

6 Nations are terrified, kingdoms are shaken;

    God thunders, and the earth dissolves.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our refuge.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done.

    See what amazing things he has done on earth.

9 He stops wars all over the world;

    he breaks bows, destroys spears,

    and sets shields on fire.

10 “Stop fighting,” he says, “and know that I am God,

    supreme among the nations,

    supreme over the world.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our refuge.

There will be a day when I will enter my Shepherd's house and at last ask of Him the answers to the things of life that amaze me, confound me, and even frighten me.  Until that day, I have His Word with its wisdom, its promises, and its mysteries.   

It can be a scary world.  Stay close to the Good Shepherd.  

Some Call This Courage

Psalm 46 English Standard Version (ESV)

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.[a] A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present[b] 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

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

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

It's a scary world out there.  Should Christians be afraid?  As long as we live in this world with our human frailties we will be.  God doesn't promise safety but he does promise his Presence.  We've got to remember who our God is, and when we forget, be reminded again and again.  We don't want to live in fear; we want to live in spite of fear.  Some call this courage.