How Can I Stand Firm When the Earth is Shifting Under My Feet?

How Can I Stand Firm When the Earth is Shifting Under My Feet?

Posted on by Michele Morin

On a perfect July beach day, I stood in the Atlantic Ocean up to my knees, enjoying the rhythmic push and pull of thousands of gallons of water. However, as the surf dislodged the sand from beneath my feet, I struggled to maintain my balance. Eventually, I realized that if I insisted on standing in one spot, I would lose my balance, because the ocean was continually changing the sandy surface, burying my feet up to the ankles, and churning away my foundation.

A simple step to the right or to the left restored me to a solid standing. The sand would settle, the wave would surge, and for that moment, I would be on solid ground. The hot sun, the cool breeze, and the sound of the surf were the only blessings I needed for that moment, but if I was going to appreciate them, I had to be on the move!

I’ve noticed that often it’s the small changes that keep me upright in my actual life. Rarely is it the major projects that change me, but rather the reasonable and right next step that helps me grow. For example, “I’m going to review Romans 8 to make sure I still have it mostly memorized!” is a worthy goal and is likely to happen. But “I’m going to memorize the book of Romans this month!” will certainly flatten me with discouragement!

I’ve noticed that often it’s the small changes that keep me afloat in my actual life. Rarely is it the major projects that change me, but rather the reasonable and right next step that helps me grow.

Martin Luther asked, “What will you do in the mundane days of faithfulness?”

Honestly, it’s a question I would rather not answer because it implies day after day of simply being—showing up for church responsibilities, cleaning out the hall closet, washing kitchen cabinets, and writing twice-weekly blog posts.

But the question persists.
What will I do with God’s call simply to be—in this role, this zip code, this set of duties, this round of expectations that are mine as surely as my name and my eye color.

In the Days of Mundane Faithfulness…

Today, I will carry the lesson God taught me on the perfect beach day in July. Little adjustments to my stance, persistence amid relentless change, and continual gratitude for God’s lavish gifts will hold me upright, keeping me faithful and on my feet spiritually.

The Lord is my horizon, and with my eyes on him, I will stand firm.

I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

Psalm 16:8

What waves are washing over you today, threatening to take you off your feet?
Are you struggling to stay upright, to live a faithful following life against a background of constantly shifting priorities, circumstances, and resources?
In this community of readers, how can we pray for you?

Holding You in the Light,

The Lord is my horizon, and with my eyes on him, I will stand firm. “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four married sons and a growing fleet of adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

30 thoughts on “How Can I Stand Firm When the Earth is Shifting Under My Feet?”

  2. Hello and happy Sunday Michele,
    Thank you for your sharing today. You have described just how i feel with so much change and a sense of lost time. Entering a new season with daughters in college and heading back to a far away campus soon, i find myself saying repeatedly , ‘i dont know how to do this’. There are many shifting areas in my life and i am trying to learn to be more patient and trusting in God’s plan. You have given me a perspective of hope for the small adjustments that i am able to make with the help of grace. Please pray for my family relationships to grow in love and for my husband and i to parent well these days. Thank you and may God bless you and your ministry. Nancy

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    1. I have written your name in my planner so I will remember to pray for you. I am blessed by your honesty and receptivity to the changes God wants to make in YOU in response to the changes around you!

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  4. Love that photo! And boy, do I know that feeling of the sand being pulled from under me! Such a good lesson for us from your experience and Luther’s words, “What will you do in the mundane days of faithfulness?” Thank you for the reminder that God calls us to be faithful in the small things each day. With His help we’ll keep standing!

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  6. This goes straight to my heart, Michele. First there was this: “the reasonable and right next step that helps me grow” – followed by the Martin Luther quote. Beautiful paring – the mundane days of faithfulness are where the next steps come for growth! I am glad to start off my week with these thoughts encouraging me.

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  8. I’m thankful He gives us the grace to adjust to change and even makes it an opportunity for growth, Michele.

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  9. Having grown up at the coast, I could feel the water and sand swishing through my toes as I read your post. What a great lesson! I’ve recently decided that if I can just begin to recall the scriptures I used to know by heart that would be good progress. So I started a new notebook where I can review the scriptures that are no longer fresh. Your post resonated in many ways.

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    1. I should take a page from your play book! My review process is pretty random, and there are several passages that I know I’ve “lost” among the cobwebs. Good idea, Debbie! (P.S. Just scheduled my review of your new book for 8/23 and made a video to share on SM. Great work, my friend!)

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  10. In this upside-down, inside-out world our feet better be solidly planted on the Foundation of our Faith, the Lord Jesus Christ. Like I saw on social media, “Normal is not coming back but Jesus IS.” That is our Truth, our Joy, and our one True Hope. Good stuff, MM. xoSS

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  12. Yes, we MUST plant our feet on the solid ground of Jesus Christ. The wise builder knew to build on a firm foundation. The other side of the coin is that the foolish builder more or less did what he wanted to, and the result was disastrous. Peace and blessings to you and yours.

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  14. […] My days are mostly filled with the mundane. Maybe that’s why Michele Morin’s post spoke so deeply. “The Lord is my horizon, and with my eyes on him, I will stand firm.” Read “How Can I Stand Firm When the Earth is Shifting Under My Feet?” HERE. […]

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  15. Oh boy, your words spoke to my heart today. I can do resonate with this. Pausing to reflect on your message sweet friend.
    Thank you so very much for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.

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