How to Trust God When the World Feels Unstable

“And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.’ This expression, ‘Yet once more,’ denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26-27).

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now” (Romans 8:18-22).

When sin entered the world, it affected both the physical creation and the spiritual condition of humanity. Sin destroys, but our salvation is secure. We can rest assured that our world will remain as long as God intends it to serve His purpose. Scripture prophesies that God will renovate and restore our world for a thousand years after He returns. And if that isn’t enough, He will replace it with a completely new earth for eternity.

When nature seems to be falling apart, remind yourself it’s only temporary. We are eternally secure because we belong to Him.

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“Daniel said, ‘Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings” (Daniel 2:20-21a).

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Romans 13:1).

God uses both godly and ungodly leaders to advance His sovereign purposes. Remember Pharaoh? Remember Nebuchadnezzar? When the political landscape is bleak, know that God is still on His throne and working all things for our good and His glory.

3. Keep Your Eyes on the Lord and Enjoy His Presence

“I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. … In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:8-9, 11b).

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2a).

“If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest.” These are the words of Corrie ten Boom, who lived through one of the most unstable times in history, the Holocaust. She survived the Ravensbrück concentration camp by God’s mercy and grace as she kept her eyes on Jesus.

Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can live in the joy of His presence, no matter how threatening or hostile our world may be.

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“The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! The Lord is great in Zion, and He is exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He. The strength of the King loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; Holy is He” (Psalm 99:1-5).

“I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; the court sat, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9-10).

There will always be injustice and unfairness in our broken world. After all, we are broken people, prone to sin and self-serving at best without Christ. Evil people do evil things, and innocent people are often harmed.

However, we serve the Ancient of Days — the only Righteous Judge who has witnessed every action, every word, and every thought since the beginning of time. No one escapes God’s justice. All sin will face the wrath of God. Jesus bore our wrath, but those who reject salvation will answer for their sin before a just, holy, and righteous God.

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“Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 7:47-49).

“Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. … For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries” (Psalm 112:1-2,6-8).

In times of uncertainty, we may be tempted to compromise our faith. Self-preservation and the temptation to take the easy road are common to man. These are the moments when we must stay the course, believing God’s Word to be true and authoritative. It reveals God’s commands and provides us with wisdom in every situation.

We demonstrate our love and commitment to God by our willingness to obey Him, no matter the cost. Determine now to live a righteous life, for it will not be easy in the last days.

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“Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

This chapter is worth reading in its entirety. 2 Peter 3 and 2 Timothy 3 are parallel passages that remind us that in the last days before Christ returns, wickedness will increase, mockers will thrive, and this world will become increasingly unstable.

As followers of Jesus, however, we should not be dismayed. God’s track record of fulfilled prophecy is perfect. Jesus told us, “Do not let your heart be troubled…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

When the world beneath your feet is shaking, look up, dear child of God. Your redemption draws nigh!

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