Is God Shaking Our World? …Hello Hump Day readers. Al and I are back in Arizona almost wishing we stayed up in cool northern New Mexico for a few more weeks! 35 years ago we left the tundra of northern Wisconsin to Arizona and wow, so many changes in both climates—actually, everywhere around the world. The weather has been destructive throughout the globe and all I could think was, “is God shaking our world?” I know I’m not alone in that, because biblically, the people in those times said the same thing!

This year many people all over the world have been in serious weather, many have lost their lives and for those alive, they have little to nothing to start over again. Talk about shaking the globe, this now shakes our hearts and impacts our minds, “we are afraid, we have nothing left, now what can we do?”

I read an interesting story from South America, shared by a missionary couple who worked in this village for 23 years. They share this story that happened about 20 years ago:

“During an earthquake that occurred, the people in our small village were terrified as the massive quake shook their village apart. As missionaries we had been in earthquake areas, but to be honest, this one scared us beyond anything. Shelters were few so, when the earthquake finally subsided and the people emerged from them—including us—we were surprised to find one of the village’s elderly women, sitting in her rocking chair which was all that was left of her small hut. She was rocking and smiling contently! My husband and I were perplexed…until we weren’t and we should have known why. One of the younger men (she was not his mother but elderly mothers are all called ‘Mother’, to not do so would be rude) asked her, “Mother, aren’t you afraid? Look, there is nothing left in our village?!” Her reply hit our hearts, “Of course not! I rejoice to know that I have a God who can shake the world.”

My husband and I looked at each other, first with joy because our missionary time amongst these people had brought her to Jesus; but second, for us—here we are sharing the power of the Lord and fearful—no, more like scared out of our wits, of an earthquake! We sat down later on with Mother and both of us will never forget our conversation. To this day—now me being 80 years old—I have to say, “who saved who?”

You and I put stock in so many things in life that can be destroyed in an instant. Why do we do that? Well, those things can give us joy, stature, stability…until they are gone. We can replace them but again, they will not last. I love the quote from Charles Spurgeon: “there is nothing stable beneath these rolling skies.” Isn’t that the truth?! Looking up stats from our national weather folks, for the last 15 years, we have seen storms that destroy both things and people, storms never seen so violent in our time. Hebrews 12:28-29 from the Message translation reminds us how to get through this kind of shaking: “Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!”

We need to embrace the wisdom from ‘Mother’ and rejoice that we have a God who can shake the world—not just the earth but you and me! God wants to wake us up to realize that each of us is a child of God—precious is in his sight. In John 10:28 [Voice] we read: “I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand.”

Do not listen to the signs of the future and become despaired. Our God can shake the world but in God’s hands we are held, cared for, and safe. Let that encourage you. And remember this, “the One who formed the foundations of the earth also holds you firmly in His will. And His Kingdom will never end.” So when the shaking starts, breathe in and out and then smile contently—maybe in your rocking chair, show a hopeless world that your hope will not be shaken because the God of the universe is on the throne! AMEN.