The Name of the Lord
- Daniel Marsh
- Nov 6
- 6 min read
By Bro. Robert Green – October 22, 2025, Wednesday Evening Revival Service
Faith in Times of Trouble
When I read Psalm 46, I’m reminded that God is our refuge and strength—a very present help in trouble. Those words are simple to quote, but harder to live. Trouble is the condition that makes help necessary, and we can’t know the reality of His presence until we find ourselves pressed to the edge of what we can bear.
I’ve learned that when everything seems steady, my prayers get soft. But when the mountain shakes and the waters roar, faith sharpens. The Lord doesn’t promise us insulation from trouble—He promises His presence in the midst of it. Every believer eventually finds out that the “very present help” isn’t poetic language; it’s survival language.
Scripture says, “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved.” I’ve proven that verse in my own life. When I couldn’t trace what God was doing, I had to trust that He was still in the middle of it. I’ve watched Him steady my mind when everything else was shaking.
We spend much of our energy praying away the very trials that build our trust. Yet when faith has no difficulty to wrestle with, it grows weak. I’ve come to believe that God’s “early” and “on time” don’t follow my clock. He’s never been late once—not for Lazarus, not for me, not for you. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness is action disguised as quietness. It’s hard work for a restless heart. I can sit down outwardly and still have the gears in my mind spinning at ninety miles an hour. God calls that internal storm to silence.
To be still means to surrender the illusion of control. It’s faith in its purest form—not passivity, but obedience. Some of us find movement easier than waiting. Yet in the still place, God speaks. He reminds us that nothing coming against us has ever outmatched His power. The Lord of hosts is with you; He has never lost a battle.
The Name of the Lord
There’s strength in the name of the Lord. I’ve felt it when I whispered “Jesus” through clenched teeth and tears. The strength wasn’t emotional—it was spiritual reinforcement that arrived from somewhere beyond me. The name of the Lord gives courage to face what human resolve can’t carry.
No other name holds that kind of power. Titles fade, governments fall, wealth evaporates—but the authority of His name never diminishes. The righteous run into it and are safe. That truth doesn’t depend on location, mood, or ceremony. You don’t need a choir, a sanctuary, or a preacher at your side; the name itself is the strong tower.
Power is the force that propels motion. When I had nothing left, I discovered His name carried me forward. I’ve even said—half in humor, half in honesty—“I’m so glad I don’t know what to do.” Because not knowing forces me back to prayer, and prayer returns me to the power source.
In the name of the Lord there is hope. Hope isn’t wishful thinking; it’s anchored assurance. The world promises reward and delivers emptiness. God promises transformation and delivers peace. He doesn’t dangle the carrot of grace beyond reach; He offers real deliverance from sin and the power to continue walking uprightly.
Salvation isn’t a one-time event you tuck away like an old photograph. It’s a living relationship that must be kept current. You can’t live on yesterday’s manna. The same name that saved you yesterday must sanctify you today.
Many lose spiritual ground not because God has failed, but because they stop maintaining what He gave them. To stay strong, we must keep the Word near, prayer active, and obedience fresh. The name of the Lord remains powerful only as we remain faithful.
Scripture calls the righteous “blessed,” but the fuller meaning is “enviable.” The man or woman who trusts in the Lord lives a life others wish they had—not because of luxury, but because of peace. The world trusts in chariots and horses; we remember the name of the Lord our God.
When people look at a Christian who endures hardship with grace, they see something unexplainable by human strength. They see the enviable life of one anchored in the Lord’s name.
I once worked beside a young man who didn’t know who Abraham was and had only a vague idea of who Jesus might be. That conversation shook me. We live in a generation largely ignorant of Scripture, yet starving for meaning. Our calling as believers is to make the name of the Lord known again.
We won’t accomplish that through condemnation or slogans. People need to see Christ before they’ll listen about Him. Friendship often opens hearts faster than argument. Jesus met sinners at tables long before He preached to them. We must be willing to do the same—to gently lead souls toward the Savior whose name saves.
There’s an old story of a soldier who couldn’t see the president. A small boy took his hand, led him past the guards, through the corridors, and straight to Abraham Lincoln’s office. “Dad,” the boy said, “this man would like to talk to you.”
That’s exactly what Christ does. On our own, we have no audience with the Father. But the Son takes our hand and says, “Come on, Dad—this one needs You.” The veil is gone. We can approach the throne of grace directly. Whether it’s a small need or an impossible one, we come in Jesus’ name, and heaven listens.
Faith rejoices before it sees results. The prophet Joel said, “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God… for the Lord will do great things.” God tells us to praise Him before the harvest, to trust Him before the rain falls.
We live in a culture of instant gratification—faith operates on divine timing. To rejoice before the answer is to declare trust louder than worry. It’s the surest sign of maturity when a believer can shout “Thank You” while still standing in need.
Lessons Through Trial
Trials are not punishments; they’re classrooms. Every hardship has been an uninvited teacher in my life. From accidents to financial strain to health scares, God used each to refine compassion and empathy. Without suffering, we’d have little credibility to comfort others.
Children raise parents as much as parents raise children. The little frustrations and the great heartbreaks are all part of God’s training program—to strengthen, to mature, to make us instruments of mercy. Don’t rush your season. Growth takes time, and every trial is fertilizer for faith.
Years ago, I built a bathroom for a wealthy client who later forgot our payment agreement. I could’ve stood my ground, but peace of conscience is worth more than tools or money. I told him I’d return them if that would settle his mind. Later his son told me, “Dad said you’re more of a man than he is.” That moment mattered more than the paycheck.
If hardship lets Christ’s character be seen in me, it’s worth it. I want my life to act as a mirror—angled so that when people look at me, they see the reflection of God’s grace.
Deuteronomy reminds us that knowing truth isn’t enough; we must do it. God’s people were told not merely to possess commandments but to observe them—to live them out, to teach them to their children, and their children’s children.
Truth can be lost in three generations—or in one decision. A single compromise ripples downward. Faithfulness today safeguards the faith of tomorrow. The name of the Lord must be more than words on our lips; it must shape our choices, our homes, and our legacy.
God’s promise still stands: “My people shall never be ashamed.” There’s deep rest in knowing our hearts are clear before Him. No wealth compares to a conscience void of offense toward God and man. The world may measure success by gain; the saint measures it by peace.
When I pillow my head at night, I’m thankful that the name of the Lord still speaks peace over my soul. He has dealt wondrously with me. Every breath, every mercy, every deliverance reminds me—His name is my life’s security.
📖 Scripture Reference List
Psalm 46:1-11 – God as refuge, strength, and present help; the basis of the sermon’s foundation.
Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the Lord as a strong tower where the righteous find safety.
Acts 4:12 – Salvation found exclusively in the name of Jesus Christ.
Joel 2:21-27, 32 – God’s promise to restore and deliver those who call on His name.
Isaiah 59:19 – When the enemy floods in, the Spirit of the Lord lifts a standard.
Psalm 42:11 – Hope in God as the health of the believer’s countenance.
Deuteronomy 5 & 6 – The call to obedience and teaching God’s commandments to future generations.
Psalm 20:7-8 – Trust not in earthly strength, but remember the name of the Lord.
Matthew 5:1-12 – Beatitudes defining the “blessed” (enviable) life under God’s favor.
Reflective Questions
Where do I instinctively turn when trouble comes first — to my own strength, or to the Name of the Lord?
When God says “Be still,” do I actually stop moving, or do I just stop trusting loudly?
Has the power of the Name of the Lord become a living force in my daily walk, or just a phrase I use in crisis?
Am I helping a generation that doesn’t know Christ to see His character through friendship and gentleness?
What trials in my life could become testimonies if I stopped resenting them and started rejoicing before the answer came?
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