The other day I was listening to a podcast when I heard a story about a troop of British Girl Scouts living in China during World War II who where interned in a Japanese concentration camp. And while they endured horrible conditions and were forced to go without food and water for long periods of time, these Scouts didn’t let the circumstances get them down.

Instead, they determined to live by their code, making the best of every situation. One of the ways they did this was by singing songs to make them feel better. They sang funny songs, silly songs and even had songs that they sang before they went to bed. As the Japanese soldiers marched this Girl Scout troop through the front gates, the scouts recited Psalm 46, singing:

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, through its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-5)

When I’m facing an uncertain situation, I turn to my favorite passages of Scripture. Whether it’s the Psalms, the Prophets or the Gospels, Scripture reminds me that none of us are abandoned by God – he has not now, or ever will turn away from his children or stop pursuing us. He will do anything and everything to bring us into a deeper relationship with him.

The British Girl Scouts endured their hardship, living to see the American troops parachute in and liberate the camp. I don’t know if they sang a Psalm then, but if they did, I think it would have been this one: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).

I’m Joseph Tkach, Speaking of LIFE.