One of my favorite pieces of scripture is Psalm 46. Its words are: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. I love this psalm because it reminds me that God is indeed and forever our refuge and our strength; that, especially in times of upheaval and change, we can be reassured that God is with us. As we are fully inundated with information during this election season–as we are perhaps feeling like our nation is in an uproar–may God continue to be that refuge, that stronghold. And may our prayer of thanksgiving for God’s continued presence in the midst of this season be: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”.