When the Ground Shakes: How to Stand Firm When Fear Tries to Take Over

When the Ground Shakes: How to Stand Firm When Fear Tries to Take Over
Friday, February 27, 2026 by Janet Perez Eckles

I was alone, seated at the dining room table in the home hosting me during my trip to Quito, Ecuador.

The chair moved slightly.

I brushed it off as my imagination—until the table began shifting side to side.

I jumped to my feet. My heart raced.

Only eight hours earlier, a powerful earthquake—nearly a magnitude 7—had struck. It was the same strength as the quake that devastated Ecuador’s coast just a month before. As the floor beneath me moved and the room trembled, one instinct rose above all others: I called out the name of Jesus.

In that moment, it felt as though an unseen army had surrounded me—fear, anxiety, uncertainty, panic—each weapon aimed straight at my heart.

Perhaps you’ve faced something similar. Maybe your world is shaking right now—not with a physical earthquake, but with an emotional one.

A diagnosis you didn’t expect. A relationship suddenly fractured. A financial blow. A future that feels uncertain and unsteady.

What once felt solid now feels like it’s moving beneath your feet.

Yet here is the unshakable truth: God is not surprised. And He already has the answer.

When King Jehoshaphat stood before an overwhelming army—outnumbered, afraid, and unsure how to fight—God spoke words that still steady trembling hearts today:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15)

When everything around us shakes, God does not ask us to strive—He asks us to stand.

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17a)

And when fear whispers that we are alone, God answers with His presence:

“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged… for the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17b)

We may feel the tremors. We may hear the roar of uncertainty. But our souls remain steady when anchored to a God who never moves.

If your world is shaking today, pause and listen. What is God whispering to you in the middle of the quake?

If this message speaks to your heart, I invite you to sit quietly with God today—even for a few moments—and surrender the battle you’ve been trying to fight on your own. You don’t need to have all the answers. You only need to trust the One who does.

And if you know someone whose world feels like it’s falling apart, please share this message with them. Sometimes hope enters through the simplest invitation.

Let’s Pray

Lord,

When the ground beneath us feels unstable and fear rises like a wave, remind us that You are our firm foundation. Teach us to stand still when we want to run, to trust when we want to control, and to listen when You whisper truth over our trembling hearts. We surrender this battle to You—because it was never ours to fight. Strengthen our faith, steady our souls, and help us see Your deliverance.

In Jesus’ powerful name,

Amen.

Bonus article on today’s topic.

Janet

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