Many of us are familiar with the words of Psalm 46. It's those hopeful words: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Notice that the psalmist doesn't say that God will keep trouble away from us. Instead, God will be with us in the middle of it. So, we don't need to deny the reality of our fears or the chaos around us. We simply decide that those things don't get to define us.
When everything feels like it's falling apart, it can be easy to suppose that God is far away. Life isn't cooperating with us, and we're sure God isn't either. But Psalm 46 says the opposite. God becomes our hiding place, our sure and steady source of strength. Now, refuge doesn't mean escape. It means that God draws near to us, even before we know how to turn toward God.
Many of us know how this psalm opens, and many also know its other great line: "Be still and know that I am God."
Today, I'm reflecting on how the Common English Bible translates that. It says, "That's enough! Now know that I am God!"
"That's enough" sounds like God is interrupting our spiraling thoughts or our attempts to control what we cannot fix. Not a slap across the face like that movie from the 80s, saying, "Snap out of it!" But a gentle, firm hand on our shoulder saying, "Stop. Breathe. I'm here."
Again, we don't have to pretend everything is fine. "That's enough" or even "be still" is not a command to silence your emotions. It's an invitation to release your grip on fear and remember who holds you. Whatever troubles you today, hear God speaking, not in frustration or anger, but with love, saying, "That's enough."
And God's "that's enough" is more than enough to be your peace today.
Stay blessed...john | 
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