Living Way Church
God Is Not Shaken When The World Is
  • Behold Our God
  • Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  • It Is Well
  • Firm Foundation (He Won't)
  • Good morning. I’m glad we can be here together.
    It’s good to be with you today. I know that life feels heavy for many of us right now. Some of you are carrying burdens that others don’t see. Some are dealing with stress at home, worries about the future, health concerns, family struggles, or just the weight of living in a world that seems more unsettled every day.
    The truth is, the world does feel unstable right now. Things change quickly. News updates come every hour. Prices keep going up. There’s conflict between nations. People are anxious. Even those with strong faith can feel worn down when everything seems uncertain. It doesn’t take much for our hearts to feel unsteady.
    That’s why we’re starting our new series today: Steady Until He Comes. When life feels shaky, we need to know how to stay grounded in our faith.
    In the coming weeks, we’ll talk about what it means to live faithfully in uncertain times. This series isn’t about chasing headlines, stirring people up, or feeding fear. It’s about anchoring our hearts in God’s Word so we can live with calm faith, real hope, and steady obedience as we wait for Christ.
    I believe this is exactly what we need right now. We don’t need to panic or get caught up in speculation. We don’t have to let what’s happening around us control us. We need to look to the Lord and remember who He is. No matter how unstable the world gets, God has not changed.
    As we begin this morning, my prayer is that the Lord will settle our hearts, strengthen our faith, remind us that we really can live steady in an unsteady world, fill us with peace that goes beyond our circumstances, give us courage for each day, and help us love and serve faithfully until He comes.
    Let us pray,
    Father, we come to You this morning, grateful that we can be together as Your people. Thank You for bringing us here and for Your kindness, faithfulness, and mercy that greet us again today.
    Lord, You know each heart here. You see the burdens, fears, stress, questions, and weariness we carry from this week. Some of us feel encouraged, others are tired. Some are at peace, others are searching for it. But You know us fully. Thank You that we come to a Father who cares for His children, not someone far away.
    Today, we ask You to calm our hearts. Help us let go of distractions and listen for Your voice above everything else. There is so much around us that brings fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Please steady us with Your truth.
    As we read Your Word, help us listen well. Give us focused minds and humble hearts. Strengthen our faith and help us trust You more. Turn our attention away from what is uncertain around us and help us focus on You, who never changes.
    Remind us today that You are our refuge, our strength, and always ready to help in trouble. Show us how to rest in You and trust You. Teach us how to live with steady hearts in an unsteady world.
    Lord, if anyone here today feels overwhelmed, afraid, or tired, please meet them in a special way through Your Word. Encourage Your people, strengthen Your church, and let Your name be honored among us.
    We ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
    Right now, the world feels especially fragile.
    Things that once felt settled now seem uncertain. What used to be dependable feels shaky. People feel like the ground beneath their feet is less firm than before. It is easy to see why. Many are weighed down by wars and the threat of more conflict. Rising costs and financial uncertainty add to the pressure. People have questions about the future. Some are struggling with aging bodies or ongoing illness. Others are worried about their children, marriages, parents, or families. On top of all this, our culture feels more confused and unstable than ever.
    Even strong believers can feel unsteady when life keeps changing. This feeling of instability often brings up deeper spiritual questions.
    Sometimes we think that feeling unsettled means something is wrong with us spiritually. But that is not always true. When life is uncertain, even faithful Christians can feel its weight. It is normal to feel the pressure of living in a world that seems to move faster and get shakier every day.
    The bigger issue is not just that hard things happen, but how they affect us. These challenges can tempt us to see reality through what is unstable instead of trusting the God who never changes. They pull our attention to the chaos around us instead of to the One who is in control. Fear grows when we focus only on what is happening around us, instead of keeping our hearts anchored in God.
    That is why we are focusing on Psalm 46 today. Together, we will see how it speaks to our need for stability and confidence in a fragile world.
    Psalm 46 is meant for troubled times, not for peaceful days when everything feels predictable. It does not ignore chaos or pretend the world is calm. Instead, it speaks to a world full of upheaval, danger, roaring waters, collapsing mountains, and raging nations—the kind of world we know well.
    Yet, even with all this turmoil, the main message of this psalm is not fear, but confidence.
    This psalm reminds us that when everything around us feels unstable, God stays completely steady. God does not move, even when the world seems to be falling apart. He is not shaken, even when everything else is.
    The main message of this sermon is clear: nothing in this world, no matter how unstable or chaotic, can threaten God’s unshakable rule.
    That is what Psalm 46 will show us this morning. It will help us see why God’s people can live steadily in an unsteady world.

    Our security in God when creation shakes

    Psalm 46 first teaches us that our security comes from God, even when it seems like everything around us is falling apart.
    Look at how the psalm starts in verse 1:
    Psalm 46:1 ESV
    God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
    This is important because the psalm begins by focusing on God, not the crisis. Before talking about shaking mountains, roaring waters, or troubled nations, it points us to God. Faith comes before circumstances. Our stability comes from who God is, not from what’s happening around us.
    This lesson matters because we usually focus on our problems first. We notice what’s wrong, uncertain, or frightening. But the Bible tells us to start with God. Our steadiness comes from who God is, not from our situation.
    In this first verse, the psalmist gives us three ways to understand who God is for His people.
    First, God is our refuge.
    This word means shelter, safety, protection, and defense. It’s about having a safe place during danger. The psalm doesn’t say God’s people never face trouble. Instead, it says that in the middle of trouble, they have somewhere to turn—and more importantly, Someone to turn to.
    Our refuge doesn’t mean trouble never comes near. It means God is our safe place when trouble does come. We don’t hope for a life without problems. We hope that even when life is hard, God is still our shelter.
    Second, God is our strength.
    He is not only the One who hides us. He is the One who holds us up. He is God doesn’t just protect us. He also supports us. He gives us strength when we feel weak, tired, or overwhelmed.We do not stand firm simply because we are naturally tough, emotionally resilient, or spiritually impressive. No, God Himself is the strength of His people. He does not merely tell us to be strong. He becomes strong for us.
    Third, God is “a very present help in trouble.”
    I appreciate that wording. It’s not just help, and not just present, but very present help in trouble.
    This means God isn’t far away or just an idea. He isn’t the kind of help that sounds good in theory but isn’t there when you need it. God is truly present and close to His people in their trouble.
    So trouble doesn’t mean God has left us or cares less. In fact, it’s often in hard times that we experience God’s closeness in new and deeper ways.
    Verse 1 isn’t just a general religious idea. It’s a strong statement about who God is for His people: their refuge, their strength, and their very present help in trouble.
    Then verse 2 says,
    Psalm 46:2 ESV
    Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
    The word ‘therefore’ is important. This isn’t about ignoring problems or pretending everything is okay. It’s not just positive thinking. It’s a conclusion based on who God is: our refuge, our strength, and our very present help. Because of that, fear doesn’t have the last word.
    This doesn’t mean believers never feel afraid. It means fear isn’t in charge anymore. When our hearts are anchored in God, fear doesn’t rule us. The psalmist’s confidence isn’t based on easy times, but on God’s character.
    And then the psalm gives us the scale of the instability it has in mind.
    It says, “though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
    This isn’t just a minor problem or a bad day. It’s describing complete upheaval. The psalmist uses the most dramatic images: the earth gives way, mountains move, waters roar, and creation itself seems to fall apart.
    Scholars call this ‘de-creation’ language. The world’s most stable things—earth, mountains, seas—are shown as unstable and falling apart.
    Mountains are important here because they stand for what feels unmovable—permanent and strong. The sea often means turmoil and chaos. So, what once seemed strongest and safest is now falling
    That’s the picture: total upheaval and instability. It’s a moment when everything we thought was solid suddenly feels fragile.
    And the psalmist says that even then, “we will not fear.”
    Why? Because even if the things we count on fall apart, God does not. The world’s collapse doesn’t mean God’s rule collapses. When creation shakes, God does not. The world’s instability never threatens God’s rule.
    That’s why believers put their confidence in God’s unchanging character, not in the world’s stability.
    This is where the message gets personal. Many of us build our peace on things that don’t last—like health, income, routines, national stability, or family life. As long as these things seem steady, we feel secure.
    But when those things start to shake, we see that our sense of security was built on things that can’t really protect us.
    When health starts to fail, when money gets tight, when routines get disrupted, when families struggle, when society feels unstable, suddenly we find out where our peace was really resting. And Psalm 46 lovingly forces us to ask: was I resting in God, or was I resting in things that only felt more stable than God for a little while?
    Here’s the truth: if your peace depends on things that can fall apart, your peace will fall apart too. But if your peace is built on God, you can stand firm even when everything else falls apart.
    So the first thing Psalm 46 teaches us is that God is our security, even when it feels like creation itself is shaking.

    Our peace in God because His presence remains

    The second lesson from Psalm 46 is that we find peace in God because He is always with us.
    Something changes as you move from verses 1–3 to verse 4. At first, everything feels loud, unstable, and violent. Waters roar, mountains shake, and the earth seems to fall apart. The images are full of chaos and unrest.
    But then verse 4 says,
    Psalm 46:4 ESV
    There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
    This is a powerful contrast. The psalm shifts from chaos to calm, from instability to joy, and from roaring seas to a peaceful river. The mood softens. Instead of wild waters swallowing mountains, we see a gentle river bringing life and happiness to God’s city.
    That picture is important.
    Jerusalem wasn’t like other ancient cities built on big rivers. So the main point isn’t about geography. The psalmist isn’t giving us a map lesson. Instead, the river is a symbol of God’s provision, sustaining grace, and His life-giving presence among His people.
    Simply put, God is the source of life, joy, and stability for His city.
    When the psalm talks about “the city of God,” the focus isn’t really on the city itself. The main point is that God lives there with His people. The city’s greatness doesn’t come from its walls or buildings, but from God’s presence.
    That leads right into verse 5, which is really one of the great statements in this psalm:
    Psalm 46:5 ESV
    God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
    This is a key idea in this part of the psalm.
    Earlier in the psalm, even the mountains moved and everything strong seemed shaky. But now, the city of God will not be moved. Why? It’s not because the city is strong, or the people are special, or their situation is better. It’s because God is with them.
    That difference is what matters most.
    Without God’s presence, things are unstable. But God’s people are safe because He lives among them. Their strength doesn’t come from themselves, and their peace isn’t based on their own efforts. Their security comes from God being with them.
    And then the verse continues: “God will help her when morning dawns.”
    That phrase is comforting. It reminds us that darkness can last through the night and troubles can get worse for a while. Sometimes the night feels long and the burden heavy. But God’s help is sure. Morning means God’s help will come at the right time. His people are never left in darkness forever. God knows when to step in, when to act, and when to bring light after a long night.
    Then in verse 6, the psalm returns to upheaval again:
    Psalm 46:6 ESV
    The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
    Now the instability isn’t about nature, but about nations. This is political and international. Kingdoms fall, powers shake, and nations rage. It’s bigger than personal worries. It includes rulers, systems, governments, and whole countries being shaken.
    But even here, the psalm doesn’t show God as worried or threatened. It says, “he utters his voice, the earth melts.”
    The nations rage loudly. The world makes a great deal oNations make a lot of noise. People boast, leaders threaten, kingdoms show off, and armies gather. But God only has to speak once, and the earth melts. That’s how great His authority is. God’s voice is stronger than all the world’s noise.e often overwhelmed by the volume of what is happening around us. But the loudness of the world is not the measure of its authority. God does not need to shout over the nations. He simply speaks, and all the noise of man is put in its place.
    Then verse 7 gives us the great anchor of the section:
    Psalm 46:7 ESV
    The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
    This is the deepest kind of comfort that comes from God’s promises.
    “The LORD of hosts” means He commands heaven’s armies. He rules over all powers, seen and unseen. He isn’t just a local god for one group. He is the King over everything. No nation, kingdom, or power is outside His control.
    But this same God is also called “the God of Jacob.” That’s special because Jacob was weak and flawed. He didn’t deserve God’s favor, but God still made a promise to him. This title shows us God’s power and His faithfulness. He isn’t just mighty—He is personally faithful to His people.
    God is both all-powerful and close to us through His promises.
    This is the main point: peace doesn’t come from a life without trouble. Peace comes from God’s presence. God’s people are steady not because life is calm, but because God is with them in every storm.
    This is different from how we usually think. The world says peace comes when life is settled—when bills are paid, health is good, family is stable, and the future looks safe. But the Bible says peace comes another way. True peace comes when our hearts are anchored in God’s presence.
    So the answer to raging nations isn’t just political strength. It’s not about our side being stronger or trusting in human systems. The real answer is this: the LORD of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.
    God isn’t just our security when life is shaky. He is our peace because He stays with us through everything.

    Our confidence in God because His rule is final

    The third lesson from Psalm 46 is that we can have confidence in God because His rule is final.
    Verse 8 begins with an invitation:
    Psalm 46:8 ESV
    Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
    The psalm invites us to pay attention and really see what God is doing. Instead of focusing only on our feelings, we need to notice His actions. Faith is not just about emotion; it grows by seeing what God has done. The church should look at history through God’s actions and rule, not just through the confusion we feel right now.
    And what are we called to behold? Verse 8 continues: “how he has brought desolations on the earth.”
    That statement is serious, but it matters. It shows us that God is active in history. He is not just waiting for things to get better or reacting to what happens. God acts with judgment and power. He is in control of what happens on earth. History is always under His authority.
    Then verse 9 says,
    Psalm 46:9 ESV
    He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
    This is not a picture of a God who just manages to get through the conflicts between nations. Instead, it shows a God who ends them completely. He does not just wait out human wars; He stops them. He breaks the bow, shatters the spear, and burns the chariots. In short, He destroys the tools of human power and war.
    Human power does not last. Military strength has limits. Even the greatest empires are weak compared to God. Nations come and go. Kingdoms brag and then fall apart. Armies form and then break up. Leaders may act like they are in charge, but no one can match God’s authority. He does not bargain over His throne or share His rule with anyone.
    Then we come to one of the best-known verses in the psalm, verse 10:
    Psalm 46:10 ESV
    “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
    People often quote this verse, and for good reason, but we should understand its full meaning. It is not just a gentle reminder to help us relax. While it can comfort us, it is also a strong command from God to a world full of stress, panic, and noise. God tells the world to stop—stop trying to control everything, stop the restless striving, stop rebelling. Be still.
    And then He says, “and know that I am God.”
    This means more than just being aware of God. It is not only about remembering He exists. It is a call to recognize that He is above all. It is a call to accept reality and trust His rule. God is saying that He alone is God, and everything else must submit to Him.
    Then He says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
    This is the unchanging point in history. Everything is moving toward God’s glory. His glory is not just one possible ending—it is the certain outcome. Human chaos cannot stop God’s plans. The story does not end in confusion, panic, or evil winning. It ends with God being exalted.
    This is why God’s people can be confident. The final say does not belong to nations, markets, leaders, armies, or any crisis. The final word belongs to God.
    And then verse 11 repeats the great anchor of the psalm:
    Psalm 46:11 ESV
    The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
    The repeated message is important. God wants us to remember this truth. The God who rules over all nations is with His people. He has not separated Himself from us. His greatness does not make Him distant. His power keeps us safe. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.
    This is the main point of the psalm. Believers can live with steady faith because history is not out of control, nations are not the highest power, chaos does not win, and God will be exalted.
    When the church understands that God’s rule is final, it can stop living as if fear is in charge.

    Living Steady in an Unsteady World

    How can we put Psalm 46 into practice in our daily lives?
    This psalm is not just something to admire. It is here to help steady us and guide us when life feels uncertain.
    First, look to God as your refuge instead of depending on other things to save you.
    Ask yourself: Where do I turn first when I feel shaken or afraid? What do I rely on when life feels unstable?
    Some people check the news often, hoping to feel more in control. Others focus on money, plan too much, look for distractions, pull away from others, or get angry.
    But Psalm 46 offers us something better. It invites us to turn to God Himself, not just ideas about Him or surface habits. God is our true refuge and our safe place.
    Second, do not let your circumstances change how you see God.
    It is easy to fall into this trap. On hard days, we might feel like God is far away. When life is unstable or we are hurting, we may wonder if God is still in control.
    But hard days do not mean God has changed. Even when life is shaky or we are suffering, God is still in charge. We need to look at our situation through what we know about God, not let our situation shape our view of Him.
    So we do not start with what we see and try to guess who God is. Instead, we begin with what God has shown us about Himself and view our lives through that truth.
    Third, when you feel afraid, remember what is true about God.
    Verse 2 says, “Therefore we will not fear.” This confidence comes from knowing the truth about God. We do not overcome fear by wishing things were different or pretending everything is okay. We face fear by remembering who God is.
    He is our refuge.
    He is our strength.
    He is our present help.
    He is in the midst of His people.
    He is the Lord of hosts.
    And He will be exalted in all the earth.
    That is how we deal with fear—not with empty optimism, but with real truth. We need to remind ourselves of what is true, especially when life feels shaky.
    Fourth, practice being still as a way to surrender to God, not as a way to give up or stop caring.
    When God says, “Be still, and know that I am God,” He is not telling us to be lazy or to stop caring. He wants us to let go of our frantic efforts, our panic, and our need to control everything.
    Being still does not mean doing nothing. It means letting go of the urge to keep everything together by ourselves. It is quieting our hearts before God and saying, “Lord, You are God, and I am not. You reign, and I will trust You.”
    Fifth, find your stability in knowing God is with you.
    One of the most important truths for Christians is not that life will always be predictable or that problems will go away quickly. The real comfort is knowing that God is with His people.
    This is the main message of the psalm: God is with us. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.
    Believers can handle a lot when they know they are not alone. Peace does not come from an easy life, but from knowing God is always with us.
    Sixth, let God’s control help you stand firm, not become indifferent.
    Sometimes people think that because God is in control, we do not have to do anything. But that is not true. God’s control gives us a reason to live faithfully and obey.
    Because God reigns, we worship.
    Because God reigns, we endure.
    Because God reigns, we love one another.
    Because God reigns, we remain steadfast.
    God’s sovereignty is not meant to make us careless. It is meant to help us stand firm.
    So Psalm 46 does not just tell us that God is strong. It calls us to live differently because He is strong. It calls us to run to Him, trust Him, answer fear with truth, rest in His presence, and keep living faithfully even when the world feels shaky.
    When God is your refuge, you really can stay steady in an unsteady world.

    So What?

    So what? So what does all of this mean for me?
    It means I do not have to fall apart when the world feels like it is falling apart. Since God has not changed, I do not have to act as if everything is lost. The world might shake, and circumstances might change. Things around me can feel uncertain and unstable. But the God who rules over everything remains the same, and because He has not changed, I do not have to break down every time something around me does.
    It means my peace cannot depend on everything around me being calm. If I wait for the world to settle down, I will never have lasting peace. There will always be new worries, fears, and uncertainties. But if my peace comes from God, even hard days cannot take it away. Those days might test me or show me where I need to grow, but they cannot remove what is anchored in Him.
    It means fear should not control me anymore. Fear might show up, but it should not be in charge. God alone is Lord, sovereign, and worthy of my trust. So I need to learn, with His help, not to let fear shape how I think, respond, or live.
    It also means the church needs to be steadier. We should be less reactive, less influenced by headlines, and less controlled by rumors. Instead, we should be more prayerful, grounded, worshipful, and faithful. The world does not need a church that panics when things get hard. It needs a church that knows God, stands firm in truth, and responds to uncertain times with steady faith.
    It also means this series is starting in the right place. Before we ask questions about the future, we need to remember this: God is still in control, still with His people, and will still be exalted. Because of this, believers can live with steady faith until He returns.

    God Is Not Shaken When The World Is

    As we finish reading Psalm 46, its message becomes clear.
    When the world feels unstable, God is our refuge. When nations are in turmoil, God is with His people. As history moves forward, God will be honored everywhere.
    This is the main truth the psalm teaches us: no matter how unstable the world gets, God’s rule is never in danger. No matter what happens, God is not threatened, pushed aside, or weakened. He is still God. He still reigns. He still holds everything in His hands.
    So here’s what we should remember: the chaos around us does not take away God’s control over everything.
    You might not know what the coming months or years will bring. You might not know what challenges you’ll face. You might not know what will change in your health, your family, your finances, your church, or the world. There’s a lot we don’t know.
    But Psalm 46 reminds us of what stays the same.
    God is our refuge.
    God is our strength.
    God is our present help.
    God is with us.
    God is our fortress.
    God will be exalted.
    So, no matter what happens, this is how we should live:
    Let’s remain steady until He returns.
    Amen
    Father, we thank You for Your Word. Thank You for reminding us today that You are not shaken when this world is shaken. Thank You for being our refuge, our strength, and our very present help in trouble.
    Lord, forgive us for the times when we have allowed fear to rule our hearts. Forgive us for the times when we have looked more at what is shaking around us than at You who never change. Forgive us for trusting in temporary things more than we trust in You.
    And we ask You now to do a work in us by Your Spirit. Make us a steadier people. Teach us to run to You as our refuge. Teach us to rest in Your presence. Teach us to be still before You. Teach us to trust Your rule even when life feels uncertain.
    For those here today who are anxious, bring peace. For those who are weary, bring strength. For those who are fearful, bring calm. For those who are carrying heavy burdens, remind them that they are not alone. Be near to Your people and let the truth of Your Word settle deeply into our hearts.
    Help us, Lord, not to be reactionary, not to be controlled by fear, and not to be driven by the instability of this world. Make us prayerful. Make us grounded. Make us faithful. Make us holy. And help us to live in such a way that our lives declare that You are still on the throne.
    Thank You that You are with us. Thank You that You are our fortress. Thank You that You will be exalted in all the earth.
    And as we leave this place today, help us to live with calm faith, steady hearts, and hopeful obedience as we wait for Christ.
    We ask all of this in Jesus’ name, amen.
    Now, go today in the confidence that the Lord of hosts is with you and the God of Jacob is your fortress. Go in His peace. Go in His strength. Go in the assurance that no matter what shakes around you, your God remains unshaken.
    And may the Lord steady your heart, strengthen your faith, and keep you faithful until the day of Christ.
    Be blessed to be a blessing.

      • Psalm 46:1ESV

      • Psalm 46:2ESV

      • Psalm 46:4ESV

      • Psalm 46:5ESV

      • Psalm 46:6ESV

      • Psalm 46:7ESV

      • Psalm 46:8ESV

      • Psalm 46:9ESV

      • Psalm 46:10ESV

      • Psalm 46:11ESV

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