Trembling.

Have you ever trembled in fear?  Maybe lots of things make you tremble.  I’m not a “trembler” by nature.  I’m a screamer and a crier, but trembling?  Not so much.  The first time I remember trembling was my wedding day.  Right before the wedding was to start, I just could not stop shaking.  My mom took me on her lap and comforted me – hoop skirt and all (me, not her J).   The music started and I calmly walked down the aisle.

The next time I remember trembling was years later – it was when my mom called me and said my step-dad had died and she needed me, NOW.  I got in our van and tried to drive to her as fast as I could, except I couldn’t hold the steering wheel because I couldn’t stop trembling.  In fact, I was shaking so much, the van was actually shaking!  NO LIE!

I got on the highway and thought to myself, “How am I going to drive?  I can’t even hold the steering wheel?”   I was in a panic, trembling.  I started to pray, “Lord, my mom needs me, I have to go to her but I can’t drive.  Please help!”  Just then, I looked beside me and my step-mom was driving next to me, waving and honking the horn.  She could tell something was wrong.  She motioned for me to pull over.  I pulled over and she ran to me.   I told her I was trying to get to my mom, that Dad Tuttle had died.  She hugged me and prayed.  As soon as we embraced, the trembling stopped.

I thought of my trembling episodes during worship this morning.  We read Psalm 46:

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,
 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    He lifts His voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

 Am I (are you) a person who believes these words, literally?  I mean, “though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea” and “nations are in an uproar and kingdoms fall” – “we are not to fear, because God is our refuge and strength” – seriously?  Sounds like reasons to tremble if you ask me!

UMMMMMM, God is our refuge and strength – our fortress.  My Webster’s Dictionary says, “fortress” is a stronghold, a fortified place.  “Fortify” is defined as “to add strength by reinforcement” or “to strengthen and secure”.

Okay, so my strength is God, who is my fortress, my stronghold or my reinforcement.  I mean, that sounds really neat that God is that.  But do I believe it – do I believe it enough to live it?  To live it enough that when I tremble, or when you tremble, He’s enough.  Period.

For me, reading, learning and knowing scripture has helped me believe it.  God’s Word has blessed me in ways I could never count.   Reading scripture like:

This is why it says: “When He ascended on high,
    He led captives in His train and gave gifts to His people.”

(What does “He ascended” mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions?

He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)  (Eph 4).

WOW - that's an awesome way to think of God - to remember Who He is. 

 

Another way to live it is by praying - being the recipients of prayers (like my step-mom’s that day) or praying myself.  Leaving it all with God.  The fear, the circumstance, the trembling.  Leaving it in my “fortress”, with my “reinforcement”, knowing He sees, He knows and He is Who He says He is.

Music has also helped me realize Who God is.  Listening to scripture in music has blessed me so!  Music just speaks to me, to my heart and to my soul.  When scripture is put to music, I am doubly blessed! 

Martin Luther wrote a song from Psalm 46 that is pretty well known, “A Mighty Fortress”.  We sang the Promise Keeper version in worship today and as we sang, the trembling came back.  Oh, not a “scared” kind of trembling, but a “Holy, Holy, Holy, this is real” kind of trembling.  I have attached it here. 

 

A Mighty Fortress http://youtu.be/jcDC4vLw23k

 

Verse 2:

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing.

Were not the right man on our side. The man of God’s own choosing.

You ask who that might be?  Christ Jesus, it is He.

Lord, Saboath His name, from age to age the same, and He must win the battle.

 

His kingdom is forever – a mighty fortress is our God.  AMEN!

(you trembling too? J)