Standing When Life Feels Unsteady

When COVID 19 entered our lives, everything suddenly felt uncertain. The routines we depended on changed almost overnight. Churches closed their doors, families were separated, and everyday activities became difficult decisions. We did not know what would happen next or which way to turn.

I remember struggling with many of the same questions others were asking. Should I take the vaccine? Should I not take it? Which information should I believe? Everyone seemed to have an opinion, but no one could tell us exactly how everything would turn out. During that time, I had to return to one important truth: my ultimate security was not found in having every answer. My security was in God.

That did not mean ignoring wisdom, medical counsel, or responsible precautions. It meant recognizing that after I had prayed, sought guidance, and made the best decision I could, I still had to place my life in God’s hands. If I chose to receive the vaccine, God was still my Protector. If I chose not to receive it, I was still completely dependent upon His mercy and protection. Neither decision removed my need to trust Him.

It was also a time when we had to learn not to judge one another’s decisions. People prayed, listened, and reached different conclusions. Fear sometimes caused us to turn against one another when we needed compassion most. Yet beneath all those questions, we were searching for the same thing, a safe place to stand.

Paul gives us that place in Philippians 4:1: “Stand fast in the Lord.” He does not tell us to stand because everything around us is stable. Paul knew what it meant to live with hardship and uncertainty. He tells us to stand in the Lord because Christ remains faithful when everything familiar is changing.

Standing firm does not mean we never feel afraid. It does not mean we understand every situation or always know which decision to make. It means that after we have done all we know to do, we place our weight upon the faithfulness of God.

Sometimes standing firm looks like praying before making a difficult decision. Sometimes it means refusing to allow fear to direct every thought. It may mean opening God’s Word when conflicting voices are overwhelming us or simply whispering, “Lord, I do not know what will happen, but I am still trusting You.”

COVID 19 reminded me that life can change without warning. It also reminded me that God does not change with our circumstances. He remains present when answers are unclear, the future is uncertain, and our hearts are unsettled. Faith does not require us to have every answer. It gives us a faithful place to stand while we are waiting for direction.

Standing firm is the beginning, but God is also concerned about how we stand with one another, especially when our opinions and decisions are different. Tomorrow, we will consider what happens when peace becomes more important than proving we are right.

Pearl Prayer:

Father, when life feels uncertain and I do not know which way to turn, help me stand firmly in You. Give me wisdom for every decision and grace for those who choose differently. Keep fear from controlling my heart. Remind me that my life is always safest in Your faithful hands. In Jesus’ name, amen.

I Am The Vessel, God Is The Grace