“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalms 16:8 NIV
“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” Psalms 16:8 NLT
What makes you feel shaken? Not knowing the future? Not knowing how world events will affect you? Not seeing where provision is coming from? Not having the support of the people that you think you need? Not feeling up to the task? Unsure of what action to take next?
I get it! We have all been there, and the way things are in the world, every day brings up new questions that can shake our security. I have been in a season of uncertainty for a while now, and a few strategies have helped me retain some peace and security through it. Would you like to hear about them? Great! I hope they help you, too!
Look to the Lord. When we feel insecure and uncertain our tendency will be to keep our eyes on the question rather than the answer. When we are faced with a puzzle, something we don’t know the answer to, our brains naturally try to solve the puzzle. Our tendency will be to try to come up with the answer. I catch myself doing this ALL the time!
“Maybe the money will come from here.”
“Maybe this person will do that.”
“Maybe this is what will happen.”
“Maybe someone else will do.”
Lots of maybes, huh? Any answers? Nope!
When my life is full of questions, I have to remind myself to turn my attention away from the questions to the Lord. If He is who I say I believe He is, then the answers are with Him. He is where I need to look. Away from the questions to the One with the answers.
Remember Who is with you. Think about it. The God of the universe is not only far above all those questions, He is right there beside you. That thing that is way too complicated to figure out, that situation that is way too big for you to handle, that person who is way too angry for you to calm down, He is above it all and right next to you in the middle of it. It’s not too complicated for Him. It’s not too big for Him to handle. They aren’t too angry for Him. He’s right next to you and you aren’t in this alone.
I grew up feeling like I had to figure everything out for myself. When you get right down to it, I am wired that way. I like to research. I like to solve word puzzles and find answers. There isn’t anything really wrong with that…unless I forget to rely on God’s guidance and bring Him into the solving. As much as I may feel successful when I find an answer or solve a puzzle, it’s a problem when I feel responsible for finding the answer all on my own. I have a tendency toward self-sufficiency, but I am not self-sufficient. I need God to fill the gaps. When I look to myself rather than God I am missing the joy of His presence and the intimacy of relationship that He desires with me…that I desire with Him. Relying on myself to solve the uncertainty is a habit I need to break. What about you?
Stand in strength. When I feel insecure about what is happening in my life, I need to remember to stand strong. I can be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10) I don’t need to feel secure to know that I am secure. Let me repeat that! You don’t need to feel secure to know that you are secure!
Feelings are unstable and affected by so many factors, past and present. I can remind myself that these feelings will pass, but He remains. I can stand strong because I believe that He is strong and I believe that He is with me. My strength is not dependent on me. Your strength is not dependent on you. When you and I look to the Lord and remember He is strong, then we won’t be shaken. He is steady in the uncertainty. He never changes. I can stand in that strength and so can you.
Dear Friend, we are in uncertain times. But the truth is all times are uncertain. Sometimes we just feel more secure. So, how are you handling your insecure feelings? You can stand strong, my friend. You don’t have to be shaken. Look to the Lord. Remember He is with you and stand strong!
Key Question: What do you do when you feel insecure?
A Scripture to Consider: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalms 16:8 NIV
“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” Psalms 16:8 NLT
A YES Challenge: Reflect on your current season of uncertainty. How are you trying to answer the questions? How can you remind yourself to look to the Lord and remember that He is with you?
Prayer: Father, thank You for always being beside me, even when I forget that You are. Thank You for seeing the end from the beginning and holding all things in Your mighty hand. I choose to trust You for the answers and the resolution to all my questions. I choose to remember that You are with me as I navigate my insecurity. I can stand strong because You are strong and You are with me. Because You are with me, I will not be shaken. Amen.