Confidence in Stressful Times (Psalm 46)
This sermon delves into navigating life's inevitable stresses and anxieties by exploring a profound biblical truth. It invites listeners to shift their perspective from self-reliance to a deeper, more personal relationship with God.
In the midst of life's distress, the sermon encourages finding confidence and peace not through striving, but by deeply knowing God. This knowing comes from resting in Him, spending time with Him, and understanding His character and ways.
Overview
The sermon opens with a personal anecdote about the preacher's 8th-grade teacher finding solace in Psalm 46 during the distress of WWII, setting the stage for exploring how to find confidence amid life's stresses. The core passage, Psalm 46, is then read, highlighting God as a refuge, strength, and ever-present help in trouble.
The preacher explains that people typically react to stress by 'striving' against it—contending, fighting, and putting forth strong effort. He defines stress as pressure and distress as deep anxiety and pain. However, Psalm 46:10 offers an alternative: "Cease striving, and know that I am God."
The opposite of striving is resting, which necessitates trusting God. The central argument is that to truly trust God, one must genuinely know Him, not just know about Him. This involves a personal relationship, much like getting to know any person.
Practical steps to knowing God include spending quiet time with Him, diligently seeking His thoughts through His Word, observing His work in one's own life and the lives of others, and engaging in open, two-way communication where one shares thoughts and listens for His spirit-to-spirit response. When believers know God in this deep way, they can walk through any difficulty with peace, understanding that He is their unshakeable refuge and stronghold.
Key points
- The sermon uses Psalm 46 as a foundational text for finding confidence during stressful times.
- Stress is defined as pressure, while distress is stress leading to deep anxiety and pain.
- The natural human response to stress is often 'striving,' which means to contend with or fight against.
- Psalm 46:10 encourages believers to "Cease striving, and know that I am God."
- The alternative to striving is resting, which is rooted in trusting God.
- To trust God in difficult times, one must develop a deep, personal knowledge of Him.
- Knowing God involves spending time with Him, understanding His thoughts through His Word, observing His actions, and open communication.
In Charles Stanley's words
“Cease striving, and know that I am God.”
“The most important thing I will ever know is to know the God of the Bible.”
“What is this life but, uh, listen, it is a brief period of schooling to discover who this God is we're going to spend eternity with.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: Finding Confidence in Stressful Times
- A. Personal Anecdote: Psalm 46 during WWII
- B. Reading of Psalm 46:1-11
- II. The Experience of Stress and Distress
- A. Definition of Stress (pressure)
- B. Definition of Distress (anxiety and pain from stress)
- C. The Natural Response: Striving (contending, fighting, strong effort)
- III. The Divine Command: Cease Striving and Know God
- A. The Opposite of Striving: Resting
- B. Resting Requires Trusting God
- C. The Key to Trusting God: Knowing God Personally
- IV. What It Means to Know God
- A. Not Just Knowing About Him, But Having a Relationship
- B. How to Get to Know God:
- 1. Spend Time with Him (Be still)
- 2. Find Out What He Thinks (Through His Word, observation)
- 3. Tell Him What You Think (Open and transparent communication)
- 4. Listen to Him (Spirit-to-spirit response)
- V. God's Self-Description in Psalm 46
- A. Refuge and Strength
- B. Very Present Help in Trouble/Tight Places
- C. Stronghold and "With Us"
- VI. The Benefits of Knowing God
- A. Walk Victoriously and Peacefully Through Stress
- B. Experience Indescribable Peace and Inner Quietness
- C. Deepen Love and Relationship with God
- VII. Life's Two Choices
- A. Strive with Life Apart from God
- B. Rest with the Lord and Trust Him
Scripture references
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Insights
Stress often makes us strive against life, seeking our own solutions.
True peace emerges when we cease striving and truly know God.
Knowing God is a deep, personal relationship, not just facts.
Questions & answers
What is the primary message of this sermon?
The sermon's primary message is that confidence in stressful times comes from ceasing to strive and instead deeply knowing God. This personal knowledge enables believers to rest in His power and presence.
What does the preacher mean by 'striving'?
Striving, as defined in the sermon, means to contend with, fight against, or put forth a strong effort toward something. It's the natural human tendency to try to handle difficulties in one's own strength.
How does the sermon define 'stress' and 'distress'?
Stress is described as pressure one feels, either against them or pulling them in different directions. Distress is when that stress brings a person to a place of deep anxiety, anxiousness, and pain in their soul.
What are the practical ways to 'know God' according to this sermon?
To know God, the sermon suggests spending quiet time with Him, reading and absorbing His Word to understand His thoughts, observing His work in your life and others', being open and transparent with Him in prayer, and listening for His spirit-to-spirit response.
What are the two choices we face when dealing with stress?
According to the sermon, we have two choices: either strive with the difficulties of life on our own, or rest them with the Lord, trusting Him to handle them.
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Source
Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on In Touch Ministries. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.