I Remain Unshakeable Because God Holds Me Steady

Trails are bound to come. We live in a fallen world. By the grace of God, these unwelcome trials can actually work for good in our lives. Remembering this truth can help us to trust God through our trials. Abiding in His presence as we endure hard things will keep us steady even when life feels chaotic.

The key to steadfastness in the face of difficulty is connection. Without a strong tether to God and the truth, the waves of life will drown us in their storms. When we abide in Christ, we learn to trust God.

Here are some strategies to help you abide and trust no matter what life throws at you.

Abide

The word abide has an intriguing meaning for us, and it is important to understand its roots. In Hebrew, the meaning connects to remaining or staying. This means that we should be close to God. The ways to do this are through prayer, scripture reading, worship, church attendance, and Christian fellowship. We must abide with the things of Christ in order to be close to Him.

If instead, we abide or stay close to the news, our deceitful thoughts, worries, or problems, then they will become the focus of our lives and our foundations will be loose.

The English definition of abide has more to do with obedience, which is also a helpful reminder. If we abide with God, we are obeying, trusting and agreeing to His word. We can replace our fears and concerns with His truths, promises, and character.

To abide (remain) with the Lord, commit to reading scripture and praying every day. Commit to weekly church attendance. Find another believer to meet with regularly. Create an “abiding” list. Add additional ideas that speak to your personality, circumstances, and preferences. Set reminders on your phone if necessary.

To abide (obey), compare your fears to God’s word. Make a list of your worries or trials and do a word study to help find scripture that will speak to your situation. Read God’s truths from your list when the temptation to fear creeps in. Make your thoughts obey His truth.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 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 15:4-5 ESV).

Trust

In the Bible, trust refers to a bold, confident assurance, and our modern definitions speak of faith, sureness, and certainty. All of these definitions have connotations of proof. To be sure of something requires evidence or previous positive experiences.

To build trust in God, despite situations that try to test it, we must know who God is and what He has done.

The first step to trust is to read the Bible and discover stories of God’s faithfulness during the trials His people experience. When we read stories from the past that tell of God’s provision, we are gathering evidence. While you read these stories, take notes about what the events say about the character of God. Keep a running “character list” that you can refer to when your own trials tempt you to doubt God

Next, read or listen to missionary stories that highlight God’s faithfulness and care. These historical events will provide additional proof that God can be trusted when times get tough.

Remind

Finally, create a list of times in your own personal history where you have seen God work. When you feel overwhelmed by the chaos around you, refer to a list to remind you where you have put your trust.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock,” (Isaiah 26:3-4).

Understanding who God is, the story of His people, and His sovereignty can all help you persevere in your trials.

When we are experiencing something that doesn’t seem good, it can be hard to imagine what good will come of it. However, abiding and trusting can steady our chaotic hearts no matter what trials come.