I Will Not Be Shaken! Yeah Right!

Sunday morning, March 11th, 2012
I was hurting.  I was weak.  I was down.  I was devastated.    I . . . was . . . shaken.  You see, on Friday I heard the words ‘breast cancer’.  It was coming from the mouth of MY doctor and he was talking about ME!  ME!  I honestly think he only said the words once, maybe twice, while I was in his office, but I continued to hear them over and over again in my head.  Those words resonated louder and louder than anything else that was spoken.

I came to church with a broken heart, a heart that was longing for God.  I REALLY needed to feel God’s presence.  I had to get out of this slump.  My heart was open and ready to soak in all that I possibly could.  I really needed to be filled!  I HAD to be filled.  I knew I couldn’t do this one on my own.  This was much too big for me.

Wayne’s genuine handshake, which feels more like  “I truly care for you” rather than just a mere welcome to church, Sharon’s pat on the back as she spoke my name, a sincere worship team who had purposefully chosen the music, a prayer warrior praying during a praise song.  God’s presence was becoming apparent already. 

The sermon.   I earnestly prayed the message would be for me!  I really needed words that I could carry with me as I started this new journey in my life.   Words that could lift me through a biopsy.  Words that could embrace me while I waited anxiously for the results.  Words that could give us strength to tell our children.   Please God, use Lee today!  My husband and I are both hurting.  Please reveal God’s message to us today! 

Psalms 16:8 “I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

What?  “I will not be shaken.” I will not be shaken?  Oh yes I will and I have proof!  Just look at me, just simply look at me today1  I AM SHAKEN!   Can’t you tell that I’m hurting?  Doesn’t anyone see my pain?  Can you see that I am CLEARLY shaken?

“I keep my eyes always on the LORD.”    Well, maybe this doesn’t apply to me this weekend.   I could easily change that scripture to read more like, “I keep my eyes always on MYSELF!”  Or “Take on the ‘all about me’ attitude.”   Thanks to our wonderful God, my problem was soon revealed to me.   My focus was on me!!   There were many other people in church Sunday morning that were hurting just as deeply as I was.  Just as quickly as my slump, my devastation, my weakness had hit me, it was starting to disappear.  Was I really shaken?  My faith never waivered, I had just hit a rough spot. 

Yes!  I want a life that can't be shaken!!!  Yes, I want a glad heart! Yes, I want to have a whole being that rejoices!  I have the blessed assurance that God will be with me through any trials that I face.  My focus has changed.    I will keep my eyes always on the LORD!  With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken!

To hear Lee's sermon which included my testimony click on Crossroads Christian Church, March 18th.