4 Reasons Why We Can Stand Firm in Our Faith in an Unstable World
By Lynette Kittle
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” - 1 Corinthians 16:13
Our world today is on shaky ground. With increasing earthquakes, disasters, political upheavals, and wars springing up around the globe, we can’t count on the earth’s stability. The tension of uncertainty about where the next disaster or outbreak of unrest will happen is spreading fear and apprehension in people’s hearts worldwide.
As well, global leaders are rewriting rules every few months on how, when, and where we can travel, work, and live, causing us to see that we can’t bank our future on things that might collapse next week based on a world’s foundation that is weakening daily.
4 Reasons Why We Can Stand Firm
Standing firm when the world seems like a tilt-a-whirl may seem at times too hard to do, but we don’t have to count on our own stability to keep us upright. Following are four reasons why we can stand stable in an unstable world.
1. Jesus Is Our Strong Foundation
Unlike those who have not received Jesus as their Savior, Christians have a strong foundation on which we can stand. Ephesians 2:20 describes it, as “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.”
Any other foundation the world tries to build on will not withstand time because “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
As Hebrews 3:6 explains, “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.”
Because we do have a strong foundation, we can do what Psalm 31:24 urges us to do: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
2. We Have God’s Word
Although the world’s chaos tries to knock us off balance and drag us down, Galatians 5:1 urges, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Standing is not something we can muster up enough strength and courage on our own to do. But we can do as 1 Corinthians 15:1 calls us to do, to remain steadfast in the truth of God’s word. “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.”
3. We Have God’s Promises
Standing involves a commitment to believe God’s Word and His promises. As, Hebrews 10:23 urges, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
Like the old hymn “Standing on the Promises of Christ My King” encourages in verse two, we have God’s unfailing promises to keep us standing.
“Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.”
Jesus calls us to stand, promising us in Matthew 24:13. “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
4. Jesus’ Kingdom Is Unshakeable
Unlike the world where kings and kingdoms come and go, Hebrew 12:28 explains, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
Our present and our future are not dependent on the earth’s shifting and shakiness. We have a strong foundation and eternal hope, and our future is unshakeable.
In a dream, God showed Daniel Jesus’ coming kingdom: “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44).
Furthermore, God gave Daniel a prophetic vision of Jesus in His majesty. “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).
Intersecting Faith & Life:
If you’re feeling a little weak in the knees and taken off guard by all that’s happening in the world, ask God to strengthen you each and every day. Turn to His Word to encourage you. Look to His promises and unshakeable kingdom.
Further Reading:
Our Strong Foundation in a Shaky World
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/deberarr
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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