2 Steps to a Steady Heart When We’re All Shook Up
All shook up.
I recently took our Dachshund, Sadie, to the veterinarian for yearly shots and a physical. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, all sixteen pounds of Sadie started shaking.
Often, she tries to make a beeline for the exit. And Sadie stays all shook up until we arrive home.
Decades ago, a song by Elvis conveyed a time when he was all shook up. By what? you may wonder.
A closer look at the lyrics and the mystery is solved. Falling in love shook up Elvis Presley.
Needless to say, his famous words relayed a kind of shook up we view in a good and positive light. Oh how Sadie wished for anything but the animal hospital.
All Shook Up
On the down-side, life gives us plenty of not-so-good reasons for when we are all shook up. I’ve experienced each one of these on my list below. Perhaps you have too.
- We lose a job.
- Our dear loved one passes away.
- Our child turns wayward and it turns our world upside down.
- We or family members receive a troubling medical diagnosis.
- Broken relationships or a hurting marriage rob our inner joy and peace.
- Because of unmet dreams we sob into our pillow at bedtime.
- An injury inflicted upon our soul seems to never go away.
Each of these and others leave us shaking in our boots or whatever our choice of footwear.
2-step Plan for When We’re All Shook Up
Yet, in twenty short words, God’s Word shows us how to overcome in the shaken-up department. It’s not by combing through lyrics to a love song. But this Scripture offers a two-fold plan to keep us stable and grounded.
“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8)
With a closer look at the words of David, inspired by God, the mystery is solved. Here’s how to transform from our all-shook-up mentality to God’s I-will-not-be-shaken mindset.
The 2-step way to transform from my all-shook-up mentality to God's I-will-not-be-shaken mindset. Click To TweetWhat or Who is Set Before Me?
(1.) Set the Lord always before me. Not sometimes. Not when we feel like it. And not if we have time. Always.
The book of Hebrews assures we have received “a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)
This is how we set the Lord before us: we come into His presence daily and often to offer “acceptable worship.”
God is set before us and not the world. Our focus is on Him. Yet, don’t miss this. Circumstances never squeeze out God’s ever-present awe and wonder in our hearts and lives.
Still, the choice is ours whether He is before us or on the sidelines of our life. Or, if we are all shook up.
The choice is ours whether God is before us or on the sidelines of our life. #blog Click To TweetWhat or Who is at My Right Hand?
(2.) Make sure the Lord stays at my right hand. Keeping the Lord at our right hand is the “because” factor we find in our focal verse.
It reminds me of the vast Scriptures speaking of God’s right hand as mighty and righteous and saving (a wonderful word study).
Just like the adage, “He was my right hand man,” means someone who helps and supports us the most (Cambridge dictionary online). David makes it clear in Psalm 16. God. Is. His. Right. Hand. God.
And God is our right-hand God.
The Lord gives us the most help. Because the Lord is at our right hand, we will not be shaken.
If I keep God at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8) Click To TweetWhen Life Has Me All Shook Up
For present and future times when life threatens to shake me up…
I set the Lord before me.
I keep God at my right hand.
*All Scripture references ESV.
*Featured images and photo of Sadie designed in Adobe Spark.
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This is a great post. It spoke directly to my heart. Interestingly Psalm 16 was where I camped this morning at 5:00 am. I love the illustration of Sadie. I can attest to feeling shook up just like her when difficulties out of my control hit my life. Thank you for this post, Karen!
Psalm 16 is such a good passage to mediate on. Glad God’s Word offers a plan for this: I will not be shaken. Thanks, Marcie!
When my son was deployed we kept his dog–who reacted the same way at the vet and at the groomer. We got our own dog who just gets excited that there may be a treat ahead. He won’t be shaken–at least not yet. Great post.
Lol, Nancy. That’s funny about your dog. Sadie is so nervous at the vet, she won’t have anything to do with the treats they try to give her, she turns her head. 😉 Who could blame her after all the sticks and invading her privacy. Glad in Christ we won’t be shaken either.
Thanks for this practical reminder. When I remember that God is beside me and going before me, those circumstances seems so much less stressful!
They sure do, Annie. The choice is ours whether God is before us or on the sidelines of our life. And that perspective and positioning makes all the difference.
I love how your post makes it feel so simple to follow the two-steps when we get rattled. So often, I want to make it much more complicated and then I have an not to try. The Lord before me and at my right hand, great visual. Thanks
Yvonne, we do often make things more complicated. But it takes us being intentional with God in our lives if we want the outcome of not being shaken up.
Practical and down-to-earth. I’ll echo the comments above.Thanks.
Thanks, Miranda. I so want that I-will-not-be-shaken mentality.
Yes Elvis came to my mind immediately lol!! “All Shook Up!” I think about how the earth shook when Jesus died on the cross…I think about all the shaking that is going on right now in our world…God is on the move…but the scripture says that you posted…If I keep God at my right hand, I will not be shaken! (Ps. 16:8)
I’ve been reading a book that is talking about how 600,000 Israelites circled Jericho and on the 13th time the earth shook and the walls came crashing down…Your post hit a nerve in my spirit…there’s a whole lot of shaking going on…but as children of God we will not be moved…Amen!!!! <3 Love you!!
Marla, wonderful examples of when the earth shook at the death of the King of Glory and the walls that came crashing down. There is a whole lot of shaking going on. Grateful when the world’s standing in the middle of a shake-down, God’s people are standing still and letting Him fight for us. (Exodus 14:14). Love you1
I needed this this week. Thank you! It’s funny how we run to God and put him in front of us after we are shaken up. Your post is a reminder that if I’m putting him in his rightful place constantly then I won’t be shaken in the first place. Love those verses.
Yes, Stephanie, the 2-step plan of David (and God) works best when we are consistent daily, in every season of life, and always on our spiritual journey. Not just when we decide it’s a good idea in the moment. God’s promises never work that way.
Karen, thank you for this reminder! There are so many things that can shake us up – any of the things in your list! If the Lord isn’t at our right hand, ever before us with his Word undergirding us, we’re in bad shape. Oh, how we need him always!
Thank you, Melinda, and for commenting. We need Him always for we have “a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)
It’s nice to know that when things are shook up around us we don;t have to be. I must be blessed my dogs have loved their vet.
Glad your dogs are fond of your vet. For most pets, it’s traumatic. Thanks for commenting.
Set the Lord always before me. I love that. I’m in a state of being shaken up (just a little) in life right now, and I so appreciated this reminder. Thank you!
I hope your shaking up season is almost over, Emily. Circumstances never squeeze out God’s ever-present awe and wonder in our hearts and lives.
Love this, Karen. Sharing on Pinterest and Twitter, friend!
Thanks so much, Sarah. The Lord gives us the most help. Because the Lord is at our right hand, we will not be shaken.
Amen. When times make me feel “all shook up”, I am thankful to be able to pray to Him and feel comfort and peace.
Yes, Melissa. For present and future times when life threatens to shake me up. I set the Lord before me. I keep God at my right hand
Such a helpful post, Karen. I especially like this: “Set the Lord always before me. Not sometimes. Not when we feel like it. And not if we have time. Always.”
If I’m feeling anxious and “shook up,” this is a good place to start 🙂
God bless you, friend!
Thank you, Beckie. This idea of just setting the Lord before us enough to scrape by, won’t cut it when the earth beneath us starts giving way. It’s really about the posture of our heart.
I can relate to Sadie…the unknown and unexpected shake me up too. (What’s going to happen? I don’t like this) Thankfully even on shaky ground the rock never moves. Such a great word, practically delivered and a dog…it’s perfect. I will be re-reading – such great stuff here – thank you.
Appreciate your words and thoughts, Liz. God is our right-hand God. Hallelujah!
Love it. Absolutely love Psalm 16:8. Enjoyable to read and very easy for me to relate. Look forward to reading more from you Karen.
We definitely need a firm foundation when life becomes shaky and we become shaky. Thanks, Scott.
Me too, Karen! And so glad He’s always there by my side! Thanks for this encouraging word!
Appreciate you commenting, Beth. If we keep God at our right hand, we will not be shaken. 🙂
Such true words and the best advice for when life gets stressful. Always keep God at the center of our lives in every moment!
Exactly, Lacy. We have received “a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)
This is great, Karen! I love how you remind us that the choice is ours of where God is in our life – before us or on the sidelines.
Thanks so much, Gwen. And I often think about sports in how we want God on center field in our lives, not on the sidelines or on the bench. He’s better at calling the plays in our lives and keeping us rooted and grounded.
Love this fantastic reminder to keep our focus, ALWAYS on Him! This is the very thing He has been teaching me over the last several years. How to completely shift my perspective on life so that He truly is always before me. What a blessing it is to be continually pruned and sanctified and molded into the image of His Son!
So true, Esther. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Perspective is everything. When we remember God is God and He is our rock, it changes everything. Blessings!
I think that we often forget what being shaken up is like until it happ be again. What a beautiful scripture to pair with this, how powerful!
Thank you, Jessie. If we set the Lord before us and keep God at our right hand. Then, we will not be shaken.