Ever Present Help

Today, a day of excitement and joy for those running the Boston Marathon, turned into a day of fear and pain, in the blink of an eye. My first thoughts were: But God is there.

We ask, "How could this happen?" People tweet "What is wrong with our country?" We rage about the fear that has taken up residence in our lives. Don't we know half of the world lives with this every day? Of the 10,283 terrorist attacks (worldwide) in 2011, more than 95% of them happened in the Eastern Hemisphere. This same day there was a new story about the American Pastor Saeed's declining health due to increasing beatings at his prison.

And the storm clouds gather on the horizon.

Where is God when we are hurting? Afraid? Terrorized?

He is there. Ever Present. Nothing surprises Him. He knows the pain and damage this sin-war causes. And he longs for us to run to Him, our Helper and Refuge in times like these. 

I've seen a quote circulating today:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers--so many caring people in this world."
From The World According to Mister Rogers

The comfort to look for on days like today, is to see the helpers. The ever-present help that is our God. The refuge.

Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “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 Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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