Steady in the Shaking

Read

Hebrews 12: 28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

Think

Life has a way of shaking us. Sometimes it is sudden — the phone call in the middle of the night, the news you were not ready to hear, the decision that changes everything. Other times it is slow — a season that drains you bit by bit, relationships that fray over time, hope that erodes quietly. And when the shaking comes, it is easy to feel like everything is slipping away.

But Hebrews 12:28 gives us a different perspective. We are part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. That means the ground may move under your feet, but the foundation you stand on in Christ is secure. The job can be lost, the diagnosis can come, the people can walk away, but the kingdom you belong to does not crumble.

Think of an earthquake. Buildings fall, roads crack, landscapes change. But if something is anchored deep into bedrock, it stays. Faith in Jesus is that anchor. You may sway under the pressure, but you will not collapse because you are held by something immovable.

This is what Jesus meant when he told the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7. The difference between the houses was not the storm — both faced wind and rain. The difference was the foundation. One was built on rock, the other on sand. The one on rock stood, not because the storm was lighter, but because the foundation was stronger.

It is tempting to build life on things that feel solid but are actually fragile — financial stability, health, approval, success. None of those are wrong, but none of them are unshakable. The moment they are threatened, your peace disappears. But when your hope is rooted in Christ, you can face loss without losing yourself.

Paul understood this. Shipwrecks, beatings, prison — his circumstances were constantly shaking, yet his mission stayed the same. He could say, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). His foundation was Christ, and nothing could uproot that.

This verse in Hebrews also tells us how to respond in the shaking: be thankful and worship God. Gratitude might seem impossible when life is falling apart, but it is often the very thing that steadies you. Thankfulness shifts your focus from what you have lost to what you cannot lose — God’s presence, his promises, his love, his kingdom.

Worship in the shaking is a declaration of trust. It says, “Even here, even now, you are worthy.” It is what Paul and Silas did in the Philippian jail. Their chains rattled, but their praise was louder. Worship does not always change your circumstances, but it changes your perspective. It reminds you that you belong to a kingdom bigger than the storm you are in.

Think about a lighthouse in a storm. The waves crash, the wind roars, the sky is black, but the light keeps shining. It does not fight the storm — it simply stays steady, doing what it was made to do. That is the picture of a believer whose life is anchored in Christ. The shaking may be intense, but the light does not go out.

Maybe you feel the shaking right now. The uncertainty is real. The pressure is heavy. You do not have to pretend it is easy. But you also do not have to give in to fear. You belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. The King is still on his throne. The foundation is still solid. And even in the middle of the tremors, you can stand firm.

Apply

If life feels unsteady right now, take time today to name three things you cannot lose because of Christ. Write them down and thank God for each one. Then choose one worship song and spend a few minutes singing or listening to it, using the words to steady your heart in his presence. Let gratitude and worship remind you that your life is anchored in something unshakable.

Pray

God, thank you that I belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. When everything around me feels unstable, remind me that you are my foundation. Teach me to respond to the shaking with gratitude and worship, trusting that you are holding me secure. In Jesus’ name. Amen.