Episode #27: The secret sauce for shaking off fear and living with grace, confidence, and a steadfast heart

You and I wrestle with what’s going on, how to process it, what to do next, how to get on board with what God is doing in the world, and how to make wise decisions for our people.

We’re asking a lot of questions right now in our quest to understand our new reality:

When will things go back to normal?
Why is everything so hard?
Should I be doing this? (And this could mean taking the girls with me to the grocery store or agreeing to a playdate or allowing our older daughter to go to youth group.)

But all the questions I ask boil down to this: Am I safe?

What we thought we could count on, we cannot. Life feels precarious, scary, uncertain, foggy, and unclear. The protocols for today aren’t the accepted practices of tomorrow. What science proves today is corrected in a week. Our safety — the physical, mental, and emotional kind — feels pretty close to falling apart.

So what are we to do, try-hard girl? What is the secret sauce for shaking off this fear and living during this season with grace, confidence, and a steadfast heart?

Today, we’re talking about how to live in this season with grace, confidence, and a steadfast heart.

You feel shaky, and your world feels shaken because God is shaking us up.

Yes, God is shaking up:

Our security
Our health
And the routines we’ve known for years.

God is on the move, and when God moves, we notice it.

Today, He is shaking us loose from our:

Complacency
Self-sufficiency
And luke-warmness

He wants us to wake up to:

Living wisely
Making the most of every opportunity
And knowing His will.

So yes, your world is shaking, but not everything is shakable. Some things cannot be moved. What are they?

You and the kingdom of God.

You cannot be shaken.

David tells us in Psalm 16 that those who keep their eyes on Jesus and keep close to Him cannot be shaken. If Jesus is your rock and salvation, you cannot be moved.

Being unshakable means that yes, we will experience trials. Yes, we will suffer. Yes, hardship will knock on our front door, but our salvation and God’s presence can never be taken from us.

Fear wants to tell you that God isn’t listening, that you should panic, that God isn’t as sovereign as you were led to believe.

But fear only benefits the enemy. It’s to his advantage that you falter, waver, and grow in despair. You tell your enemy to back off, to get out, that you are unshakeable.

You cannot be shaken, and the kingdom of God cannot be shaken.

God’s kingdom is unshakeable, and His kingdom is your kingdom.

Yes, your life and routine may feel like they’ve been turned upside down, but the kingdom where you live is unmoveable. Unshakable. Unstoppable.

What exactly is the kingdom of God?

Is it a place? Like is it heaven? Or is it my salvation? Is it invisible? What is it?

Yes. It is all those things. And it is also the indwelling of God within you. The kingdom of God is inside of you! It is the dominion God has over everything in the galaxy. It is also the authority we have to do work on His behalf: the power to be the light and share the gospel. And it’s also our inheritance; how we will ultimately rule and reign with God.

But what does it mean in your real life to live in the kingdom of God?

We see our outer reality and doubt the inner truth that God will protect us, care for us, provide for us. If we get sick, run out of Clorox wipes, and are The Worst at homeschooling, is He still with us?

He is. He will not leave you or forsake you no matter what your external circumstances tell you. God’s faithfulness and steadfast character do not depend on our belief. His truth is the truth, and it stands true, independent of our ascent to these facts.

So when you feel caught between the tension of the two realities in which you reside, remember this:

Your citizenship is not here on earth. Your citizenship is in heaven. Your rights as a citizen cannot be revoked. Your claim to peace, hope, and love cannot be nullified.

The leader of your country is the eternal King of kings. Your inheritance and rewards are held in the unchanging, mighty hand of God who lavishes His love on you.

So what is the secret sauce for living with a steadfast heart when you continuously wonder, Am I safe?

You remember you live in the kingdom of God which cannot be shaken. And you remember the kingdom of God lives within you.

When you struggle with fear that overtakes your faith, ask God to help you to overcome your unbelief.

When you continue to struggle with fear even as you pray through it on your own, ask friends to surround you with prayer. Text women in your small group. Get on a Zoom call with your college roommates. Ask your husband to pray for you throughout the day. Try-hard girl, don’t stay stuck. Get help!

And finally, for that steadfast heart — if you really want it –wrestle it out with God. I’ve been doing it, and it’s exhausting, but it’s so good. Ask the hard questions. Keep asking until you hear from Him. Keep knocking on the door. Keep saying, “I don’t get it. Explain it another way. I want to understand.”

Do not give up.

Friend, you have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. It’s your home. It’s where you live. It’s your address.

Key Quotes

Your life and routine may feel like they’ve been turned upside down, but the kingdom where you live is unmoveable.
God is on the move, and when God moves, we notice it.
Friend, you have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. It’s your home. It’s where you live. It’s your address.
You live in the kingdom of God which cannot be shaken. And the kingdom of God lives within you.