Have you ever had the ground give away from beneath you?
Most of us expect certain things to remain stable. We depend on these things to be there, doing the things we count on them to do. When things fail to perform as they’ve always done, it can feel as if the world is crumbling around us.
On a recent trip to the beach, my husband and I got up early to take a stroll on the shore together. It’s usually secluded at this time of day except for the occasional couple hunting for seashells and a few individuals squeezing in a run. I love to walk along the seashore just close enough to have the waves come up and cover my feet. The cool, wet sand always feels refreshing under my feet. My husband doesn’t share my sentiments. He prefers to keep his shoes on and walks next to me on the dryer portions of the seashore. This makes holding hands a little tricky, but we make it work.
It was a gorgeous day with a soft breeze and delightfully cool temperatures–perfect for meandering on the beach together. After walking for a while, I took a step, and the soggy sand beneath my left foot gave way, causing my leg to sink into the sand. By the time it stopped, the sand had swallowed most of my leg, stopping slightly above my knee. Confused by what was happening, I pulled my leg out and took another step forward, only to have the same result.
My heart rate quickened, and panic set in as I tried to figure out what to do. I feared I would sink further into the sand if I continued in the same direction, so I turned away from the shoreline and headed toward the beach. As I made my way to drier land, the ground beneath me firmed up, and I no longer felt like the earth was gobbling me up.
I couldn’t believe it!
I had stepped into a patch of quicksand. I read this could happen, but I had never seen it, much less experienced it myself. I didn’t anticipate the ground giving way beneath me that morning. I assumed the sand would always remain solid enough (as it had always been before) to hold me up, keeping my steps secure. The whole ordeal lasted only seconds. My husband didn’t even have time to react. Those few moments while I was sinking reminded me of how quickly things can shift.
One moment everything is fine, and the next, it’s as if the floor has been jerked out from under you. We shouldn’t be surprised when trouble comes. Jesus told us we could expect it. In John 16:33, Jesus says, ” I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)
Jesus’ words remind us that we can’t count on the things of this world to remain the same; change will happen, and problems will come. However, because Jesus has already overcome the world,we don’t have to let these things steal our peace. By placing our trust in Him, we won’t elude trouble, but we’ll be able to peacefully stand firm when peril comes. When the sand gave way beneath me, all I could think was that I had to make my way to safer ground. David, the author of Psalm 40:2, says, “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud; And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm.” (NASB)
Friends, God is our safer ground. He is our refuge and our strong tower. He’s our hiding place in times of trouble. If we turn to God, He will steady our feet and help us endure the unexpected storms that come our way. When the ground beneath us gets shaky, and our path seems perilous, we can depend on God. The stability of this world is fickle and unreliable, but our God is never-changing.
The next time it feels like our world is dissolving beneath us, let’s remember to turn to the one who never changes and make our steps secure.
Kelly Basham
About the writer: Kelly is a writer and blogger passionate about pointing others to God’s word for all of life’s obstacles. On her blog, Blossom In Faith, she writes to encourage others to grow in their relationship with Jesus as they seek, study, and reflect on God’s word. Kelly lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Brandon. When she isn’t writing, you’ll probably find her working on a new arts and crafts project, hunting for vintage accessories, or planning her family’s next visit to the mountains.
