Psalms 46:1 — Sunday, February 15, 2026

Psalm 46 was probably born from a great deliverance of Jerusalem; Luther loved it deeply. Verse 1 is one of the most beloved in the Bible: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Refuge speaks of shelter; strength, of power; help, of available aid. The psalmist describes a God who is not far away but present precisely at the moment of greatest need. This verse was the foundation of Luther's song about God being our mighty fortress. Facing crises, tragedies, and fears, we can run to that refuge. God does not promise the absence of problems but constant presence in the storm. In him we find real shelter.