Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
World English Bible (WEB)
On Psalm 46: the meaning of the psalm "God is our refuge and strength," calm in the face of upheaval, and why it is read in times of crisis. Read it directly.
Psalm 46 builds an image of refuge and strength from its very first line. It describes a calm that is not seized by fear even if the earth shakes and the mountains slip; this is why it is so often read in times of crisis and uncertainty.
The strength of the psalm comes not from belittling danger but from pointing to a support in the midst of it. The call "Be still," which comes near the end, is like a summary of the whole psalm.
You can move to the chapter below to see the whole psalm and how its images develop. Related collections on comfort and fear bridge to other verses that carry the same stillness.