April 20, 2026

Daily Devotional:

“The Shelter in the Storm”

Psalm 46:1-2

"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."

Overwhelmed isn’t just a feeling; it’s a weight. It’s the sensation of being pulled in ten directions at once while the ground feels unsteady beneath you. When fear joins the mix, it whispers that the mountain in front of you is too steep and your strength is too small. But notice the order of the verse above: God is therefuge first, then the strength. When we are scared, we often try to find the strength to "fix" everything first. We scramble to solve, to plan, and to tighten our grip. Yet, the invitation here is to run to the refugebefore you try to be strong. A refuge is a place where you don't have to do anything except exist and be protected.

Many things in life offer us comfort when times are good—our bank accounts, our routines, our health—but those things often vanish the moment trouble arrives. Psalm 46 describes a scene of absolute chaos: the earth giving way and mountains which are symbols of stability and permanence, crumbling into the ocean. It represents the "worst-case scenario." Yet, the Psalmist begins not with the disaster, but with the Refuge.

A refuge is not a place where the storm doesn't exist; it is a place where the storm cannot get to you. When you feel like the foundations of your life are shifting—perhaps through a career change, a family struggle, or internal anxiety. You don’t have to have the answers right at this very moment. You only need enough light to see the next step. If the "mountains are falling," it’s okay to feel small, as long as you remember that the One holding the world isn't overwhelmed by the things that overwhelm you.

When the "What Ifs" start to howl, replace them with "Even Ifs." What if I can't handle this? Begin today by telling yourself, even if I feel weak, God is my strength. What if everything changes? Continuetrusting that even if the earth gives way, the Refuge stands.

We often wait for the mountains to stop falling before we stop fearing. But the invitation of Psalm 46 is to find a "fearless" heart while the mountains are still falling, simply because of who is standing next to us.

Take sixty seconds to sit in silence for today's breath of surrender. As you breathe in, think: "I am not in control." As you breathe out, think: "But I am deeply loved." Repeat this until the physical tightness in your chest begins to soften. You aren't giving up; you are simply handing over the heavy lifting to the only One capable of carrying it.