We Won't Be Shaken: Living When Life is Chaos

   We've all had one of those mornings. When the alarm didn't go off, you were late for an interview,  and your car ran out of gas. It feels like life has it out for you. Somehow you made somebody mad. Maybe God, maybe those dudes in the suits from the Adjustment Bureau. Somebody's pissed. And now so are you.

   Or you've had one of those years. The kind that rob you of your joy. It could be loss. The loss of a spouse, of a job, of a friend. A year that sees the stress of everyday life quadrupled, and you're sure you'll break under the strain.

   It feels like despite of how much praying, fasting, or Bible study we do, sometimes things never go our way. It is like the whole world is against us and there is nothing we can do about it. The truth is that whether you are a believer or not, for as long as we live in this world we will face times of crisis. That is something that is universal. We all have either gone through crisis, or are going through crisis, or will go through a crisis soon, that is just the result of living in a twisted world. The question that remains standing is what do we do when things are not going our way? What can we do when we are in the darkest time of our life?

Remember Who God Is

   When we are facing problems we often lose sight of the greatness of our God. We tend make our issues bigger and more powerful than the might of the One who created everything we know with His breath (Psalm 33:6). Sometimes we think our issues can hold back the One who held the Sun still in the middle of the sky (Joshua 10:12). Sometimes we think that wall in front of us, keeping us form moving forward, from taking the next step in our life, is way too big for the One who brought down the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:20). But quite the opposite is true!

   The same God who delivered Israel in miraculous ways time after time, is the God who listens and answers to your prayers. He is the One who comes to your rescue when life is at is darkest. When you feel like surrendering to your circumstances, regardless of how you got there, remember that your God walks on water, and nothing will keep Him away from rescuing you (Romans 8:38).   

Know Who You Are

   Most of us suffer from a severe identity crisis, and times of hardship usually make it even worse. We forget who we are! It does not matter what the world around us says. People will try to define us by the circumstances in which we live, but the worst mistake we can make is to let the circumstances define our identity.

   Do not let a failed test make you believe you are a failure, or a lost battle make you a loser. You are more than what the world says you are. Despite the mistakes and despite the failures, you are still worth dying for. The crazy thing is that God not only says your worth everything to Him, but He proved it and sent His Son to die on the cross so that one day you could rise victorious over everything that is holding you down right now. Whenever the world tries to label you, remember that there is only one label that fits you: Child of God!  When nothing else is certain around you, know who you are. 

Live by the Promise

   Hours before Jesus was spiked to the cross for our sins, He told His disciples: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14: 1 - 4) We don't have to let the pressures of this world squeeze our hearts dry! Here is a promise worth living by! The same God who has the power to create, the Almighty One, He came to die for you in the cross of Calvary, so that regardless what the circumstances are you could have a hope worth living by. All we have to do is accept His gift of grace and have faith in His Word. Do not let the problems and the struggles of this life keep you from enjoying the promise of Paradise. 

   One of my favorite songs is "We Won't Be Shaken" by Building 492. Its a song with a catchy tune, and some great lyrics. But unlike most songs, that isn't what gets me with this song. See the first time the song was played was at a concert called A Night of Hope & Healing which was held in Newtown Connecticut a month after the Sandy Hook shootings. Every time the song comes on the radio, it sends shivers down my spine. The chorus proclaims:

"Whatever may come our way,

through fire or pouring rain. 

We won't be shaken!

No we won't be shaken!" 

Then the bridge explains:

"We will trust in You, we will not be moved.

We will trust in you and we won't be shaken."

  I imagine being a parent of one of the young victims. How much hurt and pain they were experiencing, and then singing "We will trust in You, we won't be shaken." Sometimes there are no answers to tragedy. Sometimes evil will blow your house down, but it doesn't have to destroy you.

   No matter where you are, remember who God is, know how much you mean to Him, and live by the promise of His return. When we hold on to these truths, we will not be shaken. Knowing them can make the difference when everything is chaos.




End Credits:
This post is Manuel's and Braden's first official collaboration. It was fun. If you liked it, share it, and there will be more. If you didn't like, don't share it. There will still be more.

Image Source: http://bit.ly/1LtL0lI