“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”
(Psalm 16:8–9 ESV)

What to Do When You Feel Shaken

Seek the Lord

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4 ESV)

Pray with thanksgiving

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
(Phil. 4:6 ESV)

Humble yourself and give Him your worries

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God… casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
(1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV)

Move forward in His strength

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
(Phil. 4:13 ESV)

Trust God

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
(Prov. 3:5 ESV)

Therefore

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
(Psalm 37:5 ESV)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
(Rom. 8:28 ESV)

“So we do not lose heart… For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
(2 Cor. 4:16–17 ESV)

When life shakes you, remember that God Himself is your security. Keep Him before you, seek Him, pray, trust Him, and keep moving forward. The circumstances may shake, but you do not have to be shaken with them.

Quote

“I have complete confidence that God is able to take care of any situation and provide an answer to any question or problem.”
— Charles Stanley

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 ESV)

The fruit of the Spirit

God desires our lives to produce fruit that reflects His Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Gal. 5:22 ESV)

The fruit of light

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).” (Eph. 5:8-9 ESV)

Abide in Jesus to bear much fruit

Jesus is the source of spiritual fruit. We cannot produce it apart from Him.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 ESV)

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…” (John 15:16 ESV)

Therefore

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 ESV)

“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matt. 3:8 ESV)

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” (Rom. 6:22 ESV)

Quote

“It is of no use for any of you to try to be soul-winners if you are not bearing fruit in your own lives.”
—Charles Spurgeon

“So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” (Acts 14:3)

The righteous are bold as a lion

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Prov. 28:1 ESV)

Biblical boldness is not arrogance or self-confidence. It is courage that comes from trusting God and knowing He is with us.

Speak boldly about Jesus

“Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:31 ESV)

Boldness comes through faith

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” (Eph. 3:12 ESV)

The Holy Spirit gives boldness

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31 ESV)

Therefore

Ask God for courage to speak His Word boldly, and confidently bring your needs before Him.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 KJV)

“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” (2 Cor. 3:12 ESV)

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness…” (Acts 4:29 ESV)

Quotes

“His voice leads us not into timid discipleship but into bold witness.”
—Charles Stanley

“When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful.”
—Dwight L. Moody

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT)

Watch out for self-pride

There is a difference between being pleased with a job well done or the accomplishments of others and sinful pride. Self-righteousness and conceit puff us up, while humility keeps us teachable and dependent upon God.

God says, “Pride and arrogance… I hate.” (Prov. 8:13 NIV)

Pride precedes destruction

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18 ESV)

Pride precedes disgrace

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Prov. 11:2 ESV)

Humility precedes honor

“Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.” (Prov. 15:33 ESV)

Therefore

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty… Never be wise in your own sight.” (Rom. 12:16 ESV)

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” (Prov. 27:2 ESV)

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10 ESV)

Quote

“Humility says you can learn from anyone. You don’t know it all. No one does!” — Rick Warren

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” (Rom. 16:17 ESV)

God hates the sowing of discord

Among the things God hates is “one who sows discord among brothers.” (Prov. 6:16-19 ESV)

Division is a work of the flesh

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: … enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy…” (Gal. 5:19-21 ESV)

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him…” (Titus 3:10 ESV)

Therefore

Instead of creating strife, God calls us to make peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9 ESV)

Quote

“Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in.” — Charles Spurgeon

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place… And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4 ESV)

The Holy Spirit came with power

At Pentecost, the followers of Jesus were gathered together when the Holy Spirit came upon them. People from many nations heard them declaring the mighty works of God in their own languages.

“We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:11 ESV)

Peter preached Jesus

Peter explained that what they were witnessing fulfilled God’s promise to pour out His Spirit.

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21 ESV)

Peter proclaimed that Jesus had been crucified, raised from the dead, and exalted to the right hand of God.

“This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” (Acts 2:32 ESV)

The gift of the Holy Spirit

When the people asked what they should do, Peter answered:

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 ESV)

About three thousand people received the message and were baptized that day.

Therefore

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42 ESV)

Pentecost reminds us that God gives His people the Holy Spirit to empower them to live for Christ and proclaim the good news.

Quote

“When you strip it of everything else, Pentecost stands for power and life.” — David Wilkerson

“And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs…” (Exo. 35:31-32 ESV)

Creativity is a gift from God

God has placed remarkable abilities throughout His creation. Birds build nests, beavers build dams, and other creatures instinctively do what God designed them to do.

But God has given people the ability to imagine, design, build, and create in extraordinary ways. Scripture tells us that skill, intelligence, knowledge, and craftsmanship ultimately come from Him.

God gives skill for the work

“He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work… by any sort of workman or skilled designer.” (Exo. 35:35 ESV)

Whatever your creative ability—building, designing, writing, repairing, inventing, crafting, or making something beautiful—use it well and give God the glory.

“Arise and work! The Lord be with you!” (1 Chron. 22:16 ESV)

Therefore

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things.” (Rev. 4:11 ESV)

“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3 ESV)

“But let each one test his own work…” (Gal. 6:4 ESV)

Quote

“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” — Albert Einstein

Recognize sin and avoid it

Sin is all around us, and Scripture warns us not to become comfortable with it.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5 ESV)

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry… envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” (Gal. 5:19-21 ESV)

Confess sin and turn from it

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Prov. 28:13 ESV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Therefore

The Christian is not called to make a practice of sin, but to live in the righteousness Christ provides.

“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning…” (1 John 3:6 ESV)

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21 ESV)

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24 ESV)

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isa. 1:18 ESV)

Quote

“I’m against sin. I’ll kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and I’ll fight it as long as I’ve got a fist… I’ll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition!” — Billy Sunday

“Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matt. 10:31 ESV)

You are valuable because you were made in God’s image

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27 ESV)

You are valuable because God wonderfully made you

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14 ESV)

You are valuable because you are a child of God

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 ESV)

You are valuable because you were bought with a price

“You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.” (1 Cor. 7:23 ESV)

Therefore

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

Quote

“While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation.” — Maya Angelou