Present Help in Present Trouble

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
July 9, 2025
Psalm 46

The other morning, I was blessed by my Pastor friend who shared how we might pray with and for those who have experienced such a tragedy with the flooding in Texas. He talked a bit about the Church Camp group of elementary girls who are still missing or drowned. He prayed that all of us would continue lifting them up as well as their families and the devoted rescue workers trying to be a present help in their present trouble. Much prayer indeed.

Psalm 46:1-3 speaks of the greatest help of all; “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. Selah [Selah is a term that means pause, meditate for a moment].

The other day some friends and I were caught in a terrible rain storm. It was so bad we couldn’t see clearly to find my car as we were in the middle of a huge parking lot. The wind started to blow and the lightning was like bright, flashing swords piercing the sky and touching the earth. Needless to say, it was a bit disconcerting, but we persevered and found my car and we sloshed our way into safety. I checked my phone to see when the storm would pass and it read; “heavy rain will begin in 21 minutes” – oh brother! It gets better; I then received a call from the Culligan Water co. trying to set up an appointment – oh brother again! The rain and lightning continued so we prayed. I suggested to my friends that what we just experienced was a tiny taste of what so many had just gone through with such a downpour of rain that lasted much longer than what we were exposed to which led to such terrible flooding in Texas. In moments like these, it is hard to know how to pray, but I know the Lord calls us to pray even when what we are praying about is far beyond our comprehension. I will close with a prayer I found in the back of one of my Bibles; “Make a commitment to place your trust in the hands of a merciful God, recalling His deep love for you and His ever-present compassion. Moreover, let us commit to sharing God’s mercy with others who need to experience His compassion”.

AMEN and Pray on!