IT’S EASY TO STAY CALM WHEN YOU KNOW THE SHAKING WON’T HURT YOU!

A few nights ago, I put all my bread ingredients in the bread-making machine, set the delay-timer to have it done in 13 hours, and went off to sleep. 

I know, that’s “cheating”, but summer heat and oven-made bread-baking don’t mix well!

The next morning, as I was finishing breakfast, the whole table and everything on it began to shake, rumble, and grind.

Meanwhile, I just kept eating calmly, amused at the changing formations of the granola, cereal, and milk in my bowl.

How could I be so calm with all that whole lot o’ shaking going on?

Easy—I knew the bread machine had started its “magic”, and said machine was on the table next to me!

Was the roof falling in?  Was an earthquake happening?  Had street construction started up again like last year, jack hammers and all?  Nope.  Just my bread-maker doing its thing in the “knead” cycle.

Four hours later, my breakfast long-since finished, I pulled out a loaf of delicious, freshly-baked bread and enjoyed some for lunch.

Life gets shaky sometimes.  The economy gets jittery over news reports.  People get finicky and critical towards us.  Doctors’ visits leave us with more questions than answers.  And so it goes, leaving us wondering how we’ll be able to sleep that night or the next.

But we have a good, powerful, heavenly Father Who will make sure that no matter what else shakes, WE won’t be shaken! 

“God is our refuge and strength,
    a very presenthelp in trouble.
 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling”  Ps. 46:1-3

This is why Jesus was able to sleep in a small boat, out at sea, in the middle of a major storm. (Mark 4:38-40)

This is why we can sleep soundly, knowing we’re in His loving arms!

It’s also why we can live calmly—getting wisdom from the Lord as to where the noise and shaking are coming from, and assurance from Him that He’ll keep us stable in the midst of it all!

How do we get that wisdom and assurance?

1. Ask the Lord directly for it. 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

2. Admit to our lack of belief. Then ask Him to help us trust Him in those areas where we find it hard to.

“ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”  Mark 9:24

3. Make sure there’s nothing blocking our relationship with Him—confess and repent of sin to reopen the channel of communication.

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Ps. 66:18

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 Jn. 1:9

4. Recall times when He has helped and protected us before—thank Him for them.

“ Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer (Stone of Help), saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” 1 Sam. 7:12

5. Remember that He’s always with us and never changes, so He’ll help and protect us every time we need it.

“ God has said, ‘Never will I leave you;  never will I forsake you.’So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’…Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb. 13:5b-6, 8

6. Gather a community of wise, godly, encouraging, people for support.  They’re the ones who remind us of God’s Word, truth, love, and faithfulness when we have trouble remembering.  They’re also the ones who pray for us and hold us up when we’re in the midst of any storm.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” Heb. 10:24-25

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up…  Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Eccles. 4:9-12

7. Have an arsenal of Scriptural truth handy in mind or near-at-hand to combat anxiety.  Here’s a few “defense weapons” for starters: Ps. 3:3-6; Ps. 23:4-5; Is. 43:1-2; Is. 41:10; 1 Pet. 5:7; Phil. 4:6-7; Mat. 6:25-34.  When we meditate on and marinate in these and other Scriptures, it protects our minds and hearts from getting shaken by enemy attack.  

Where do you need to keep calm today?  Remember Who’s got us and everything else, and we won’t be shaken.