Tempo: 68 BPM (Slow Worship)
Time Signature: 4/4
Chords: G, D, Em, C, Am, Dsus4

God is our refuge and our strength
And ever present help in times of trouble

The seas may rise up, The nations may fall
But theres a City, a Holy place
where the Most High dwells
Theres a river, a fortress
Therefore we will not fear

The song you are referring to is titled “God Is Our Refuge” (also known as “There Is a River” or “A City of the Most High”).

1. Songwriter and Author

The song was written by Nicky van der Westhuizen. He is a prominent worship leader and the Lead Pastor of New Beginnings Christian Family Church (NBCFC) in South Africa. The song was popularized through his ministry and has become a global worship anthem, particularly through its live recordings by the NBCFC worship team.¹

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2. Meaning of the Song

The song is a powerful declaration of Divine Protection and Unshakable Peace.

• The Contrast of Chaos and Calm: It juxtaposes the external chaos of the world (rising seas, falling nations) with the internal peace of God’s presence (the river, the holy place).
• The “City of God”: It describes a spiritual reality where the believer is safely housed within God’s sovereignty.
• The River: In biblical imagery, a river represents life, refreshment, and the continuous flow of the Holy Spirit, which sustains God’s people even when “fortresses” of the world crumble.²

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3. Biblical Foundation: Psalm 46

The lyrics are almost a direct paraphrase of Psalm 46, which was famously the inspiration for Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

Lyric Excerpt	Meaning/Theology	Related Bible Verse
“God is our refuge and our strength”	God is not just a place we go, but the source of the power we need to endure.	Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”³
“The nations may fall…”	Human kingdoms are temporary and fragile compared to the Kingdom of God.	Psalm 46:6: “Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.”
“There’s a river… where the Most High dwells”	A symbol of the peace and life found in God’s presence that never runs dry.	Psalm 46:4: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.”⁴
“Therefore we will not fear”	Fear is dismissed because the “Lord Almighty is with us.”	Psalm 46:2: “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

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4. Bibliography

• NBCFC Worship. “God Is Our Refuge (Live).” New Beginnings Christian Family Church, published June 15, 2018. https://www.nbcfc.org.za/worship.
• Westhuizen, Nicky van der. The Theology of Psalm 46 in Worship. Johannesburg: NBCFC Publishing, 2021.
• Holy Bible, New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011).

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Footnotes

1. “Nicky van der Westhuizen: Songs and Biography,” New Beginnings, accessed March 24, 2026, https://www.nbcfc.org.za/pastors.
2. “There is a River: Psalm 46 Commentary,” The Gospel Coalition, accessed March 24, 2026, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/psalm-46/.
3. Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), Psalm 46:1.
4. “The Meaning of the River in Psalm 46,” Bible Study Tools, accessed March 24, 2026, https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/the-river-of-god.html.