Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 9
Brian described midnight flood danger on the James River and said, “When there’s trouble, rise up,” connecting it to Psalm 46; where have you used “God is our refuge” as a reason to stay passive, and what would it look like to rise up with sober, sacrificial action while still treating God—not adrenaline—as your refuge?
Another way to ask: Where have you used “God is our refuge” (Psalm 46) as an excuse to do nothing? What would it look like to take brave, sacrificial action while still trusting God more than your own energy?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Brian’s teaching implies that trusting God as “refuge and strength” does not mean passivity; it means rising up to do hard, sacrificial actions when danger hits. He portrays God as the steady “ever-present help,” while men take responsibility to act wisely and protect others.
- He quotes Psalm 46:1–3: “God is our refuge and strength and ever-present help in trouble.”
- He draws the conclusion: “When we get in trouble… rise up and deal with that trouble, face that trouble.”
- James River story: river rose “about 12 feet” overnight; the chief got boys up “about midnight” and moved camp to higher ground.
- He did it twice, waking them again at “4:00 in the morning” as water kept rising; they saw “logs floating… flood stage” and “ended up pulling off that river.”
- Another example: a boy had a seizure, and the group “carried this boy for about a mile and a half” to find help.
- He describes this as “do what men do: solve the problem, work at dealing with the situation.”