Standing Firm on Shifting Ground It is truly amazing how God gives us the opportunity to put into practice what we say we believe. It may seem easy to talk about faith, love, forgiveness, peace, and so many other things, but sometimes living them out can seem impossible at times and difficult at best. What is a believer to do?
We know from personal experience that a person’s actions speak volumes more than their words. If I tell you I will help you repair your car or clean your house, but then I never follow through with it, obviously, it will be difficult to prove that I am trustworthy. God has never had that problem. In fact, He goes beyond our wildest expectations to give us the desires of our heart when all we have to do is delight in Him. This becomes more difficult (in theory) when things are up in the air, transition is occurring, or our situations and circumstances seem to taunt us at every turn. I cannot think of anyone in this church who is not experiencing some form of transition at this time. How small or great the transition does not matter. The hope of the enemy is that we lose our focus and veer off course. When the ground starts shifting, it is easy to take your eyes off the One who can keep you standing firm. In Psalm 61:1-3, David cries out in one such situation, “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.” (© Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society All rights reserved worldwide.) David was not in a place of security, but He had reason to trust in His God for deliverance. One key is this part of the prayer: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. When we find ourselves in transition and unfamiliar territory, we may be faint, we may feel that we are at the end of our rope, but we have to realize that our God is the rock that is higher than what we see. David did not look at the impossibility of His situation where He stood. He needed to change how he saw things; he needed to be situated on the rock. From our new vantage point, the problems will look a lot smaller as we realize our God is in control. I found this to be so true this past week as situations desperately tried to control and govern every area of my life. Even our responses to things and people can be tainted by the shifting nature of our circumstances. I even took a moment to let God know all the things that were still unresolved, unanswered, and not clarified. But later that evening, in a time of prayer and praise, God’s presence was overwhelming and I truly came to the place where I could tell God, “All those other things don’t matter because Your presence is here.” I was led to the rock that is higher than I. This is certainly not an invitation to the “don’t worry, be happy” mentality of life. I am not saying forget about the problems and circumstances, just put them on hold for a moment and take the opportunity to see things from the view of the rock that is so much higher than our thinking, emotions, reactions, or anything else. Hebrews 12 lets us know that everything that can be shaken will be shaken, but we thank God that the shaking is not the end, but is moving us closer to receiving a kingdom that can never be shaken. Take the time to give God praise in the midst of your shaking. Pray for blessing on someone else’s life. Read God’s word and seek the One who never changes and cannot be moved. The choice as always is up to us as individuals, but if you do this in faith, I guarantee it will change the way you see things. I hope you join with me and make this your prayer today: Father, thank You for Your word and the power displayed through Jesus Christ through the cross. Even in the midst of shaking, You are God and You reign forever. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. I will not be overwhelmed in heart and mind, but I will see everything through Your eyes and Your plan for my life. Thank you, Lord, for Your abundant grace, In the name of Jesus, amen. | 
