Shaken

Since I’ve spent the majority of my life living in California, I’m pretty used to earthquakes. I know what it is like for the pictures to begin shaking, the earth to begin rolling, and the momentary calculation of wondering how long it’s going to last. I can quickly figure out where the nearest door jam is, and have perfected the maneuver to protect my neck should things start falling. Because of all this, an earthquake very rarely rattles my nerves. In fact, I’ve been known to sleep through many of them, much to the chagrin of my sister who would succeed in waking me up right as they ended.

However, despite my relative calm, earthquakes are not something to be taken lightly. Due to the recent earthquake in Japan, we are all well too familiar with the damage and destruction that they can cause. Not only do buildings and roadways cease to hold their form, but even the land itself reportedly moved as a result of the recent quake. It takes a very strong force to literally adjust the landscape of our globe and yet an earthquake can do that.

Unlike the layout of the Earth, however, our God has promised that His kingdom is unshakable. There is no force that can cause Him to move or that will alter His plans. The world around us may crumble, yet He is a strong tower that the righteous may run into and be safe.  He will not buckle under force, nor does He sway with the currents or tremble at evil; He remains.

And because of this, regardless of the rattle and rolling that our lives may be experiencing, we need too, need not be shaken.

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Problems in Perspective

It’s been a rough year for our family.

And it seems that every time I think that we’re about to enter a new season, another thing happens that makes me realize that this season is going to last a little bit longer. And intellectually I’m o.k. with that. After all, Scripture states that “to every thing there is a season; a time for every purpose under heaven.” So I know that life will be filled with good times and bad times, but that through it all God remains the same. Yet, while I know this in my mind, sometimes my heart is a little tired of the beating.

Recently, however, a song by Jars of Clay reminded me that it’s important to keep my problems in perspective. As they sing:

And though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

In other words, the same God who has comforted me in loss, is the One who raised the widow’s son. The same God who gives me peace, is the same God who through His command, calmed the storm. Whether it’s the passing away of a loved one, dreams that remained unrealized, job loss, or hospital stays, God has already proven that He can handle much bigger problems that these.  So whatever problems we may be facing, they are nothing He can’t handle. In light of His majesty and power, then, our problems are pretty insignificant.

This isn’t to say our problems don’t matter; they certainly do. And this isn’t to say we need to minimize our pain; we certainly don’t. The problems are real and the pain is real, and God knows this.  But we do need to keep our problems in perspective in light of the One that we are trusting our lives with. While our problems may be big, He is bigger. While our pain may be deep, His grace is deeper. He can handle anything that this life contains; after all, He’s the One who has conquered death.

So we need not fear any season or any uncertainty.

When we think we can’t take any more, we know the One who can handle it all.

 

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