What Can We Do in Times of Shaking? 

By John E. Thomas

As you surely know, the last few months have been interesting on a worldwide scale. The coronavirus has shut down entire countries. Borders have closed, travel is significantly reduced, schools and churches are meeting virtually instead of in person, numerous small businesses have folded, families are shut up in their homes together, and social life—as most of us knew it—has essentially ceased. 

But at the same time, long-dormant ideas are suddenly springing forth. New inventions are coming to the surface. Families are rediscovering the dinner table. As unnecessary “extras” are stripped away, we’re starting to focus on what’s truly essential. Heart-searching decisions are being made in this season—people are revealing who they actually are. 

Not every revelation has been a good one, obviously, but many people are realizing how strong their faith is. A few have given up, driven crazy by the lack of distractions that once kept the pain at bay, while others are choosing to let go of the destructive habits that had somehow become part of normal life for them. This has truly been a time of sifting and testing. 

What Should We Do? 

God promised there would be times of shaking on the earth. As Hebrews 12:26–29 says: 

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (ESV) 

Throughout our lives there are times when things shake. Sometimes the shaking seems to affect everything. At other times, we barely notice it. But whether the shaking is big or small, it always reveals something—it lets us know what can shake.  

God shakes things to reveal what can be shaken. Anything that isn’t built on kingdom principles can shake, and when the shaking ends, only what cannot be shaken remains. 

In times of shaking, how should we respond? 

1. Realign Your Trust 

Whenever things are shaking, it’s a great opportunity for us to look at what we’re trusting in. Have we placed our trust in something other than Jesus and His promises? Have we looked to earthly things to comfort and protect us? Are we at peace only because we still have good health? Do our finances give us a sense of security?  

When we find “false comforts”—anything that has taken the Lord’s place in our hearts—we need to ask Him to forgive us, to heal our hearts, and to give us the ability to trust in Him fully. We can let Him show us why we put our trust in those things in the first place, and then we can choose to live differently moving forward. 

2. Step into Truth 

In his blog, Coffee Talks with John Paul, John Paul Jackson said that disillusionment is actually a gift. When we’re disillusioned, it means an illusion—something we thought was true—has been revealed as false. Or said another way, a deception is now broken. If you’ve had a difficult time during this quarantine, do you or did you ever feel disillusioned? Do you know yet which illusion in your life was broken? 

 
When we discover we’ve believed a lie, we get to go to God for truth. We can thank Him for exposing the illusion and then ask Him to speak—to show us the truth He wants to give in exchange for the lie.  

Don’t try to figure out what the truth is. Just let Him speak because He knows exactly where to go—also the answer may not be what you expected. 

3. Strengthen Godly Habits 

In every time of shaking, some things remain firm and steady. What are those things for you? Pay attention to them. For example, are you discovering greater peace in your quiet times? Are you seeking people out to pray with you? Do you find yourself searching for ways to serve others? Is your sensitivity to His voice deepening?  

In times like these, it’s easier to recognize the grace in our lives. The fruit of choices we made in previous seasons gives us hope, peace, and trust when we need these things the most. Find those areas where God has graced you and press in more. If your Bible reading has opened up and you’re uncovering new understanding and love for Scripture, find ways to increase your time in the Word even after this season is over. If worship has become a refuge that settles your heart and anchors you in the Lord’s nearness, increase your worship times after the shaking ends.  

Whatever grace is there, press in! God will bless it, and you’ll find He uses this special grace to bless more people than just yourself.  

4. Remember the Essentials 

All of life, everything we could ever want or do, can be boiled down to two absolutely essential things: 

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37–39) 

Everything else can fade away—but those two remain. Even when everything we thought was important comes into question, those two things will never be in question. When our lives are centered around loving God and loving others, we will find fulfillment. God promises to reward those who diligently seek Him and that He will not forget how we have loved and served others (Heb. 6:10, 11:6). 

Let’s Connect!  

Many lives are different now than they were at the beginning of the year. Some have lost loved ones; others have lost jobs. Some will be able to recover a sense of normalcy, but honestly others may never find that normalcy again. I’m also certain that some of us haven’t seen a huge difference one way or another during this time, because we’re all in different places and situations.  

At Streams we take seriously our responsibility to pray for our Tribe. Please let us know what’s happening in your area of the world and how we can pray for you. E-mail tribe@streamsministries.com with any prayer requests or testimonies of God’s faithfulness. We want to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15). 

May God’s grace and presence overwhelm you. May you know His peace deeper than ever before.