When I’m Feeling Rattled

Sometimes life hits us with something when we’re not ready for it. Unexpected bills, surprise visits from relatives, disappointing test results, health scares – every day someone is faced with a situation that they were not prepared to deal with, and everyone handles these circumstances differently. For some of us, we put our heads down, grit our teeth, and get through it. For others of us, the event leaves us shook up, confused, frustrated, or unable to move past what just happened.

These scriptures focus on helping us find security in God, to give us the kind of supernatural inner strength that we can’t ever hope to possess on our own, in order to not only handle life, but to learn and grow stronger as the hits come.

Psalm 16:8 ESV[8] I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 91:1-9 ERV[1] You can go to God Most High to hide. You can go to God All-Powerful for protection. [2] I say to the LORD, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust in you.” [3] God will save you from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases. [4] You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield. [5] You will have nothing to fear at night and no need to be afraid of enemy arrows during the day. [6] You will have no fear of diseases that come in the dark or terrible suffering that comes at noon. [7] A thousand people may fall dead at your side or ten thousand right beside you, but nothing bad will happen to you! [8] All you will have to do is watch, and you will see that the wicked are punished. [9] You trust in the LORD for protection. You have made God Most High your place of safety.

Psalm 125:1-4 NLT[1] Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. [2] Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever. [3] The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong. [4] O LORD, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 ERV[8] Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there, which were greater than our own strength. We even gave up hope for life. [9] In fact, it seems like God has been telling us we are going to die. But this is so that we will not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from death.

Philippians 1:6 ERV[6] I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again.

James 1:2-4 ERV[2] My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. [3] You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. [4] If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.

Proverbs 14:26 ERV[26] People who respect the LORD will be safe, and they will make their children feel secure.