Seek God-Given Stability

Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

 Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17.

In times of lawlessness, anarchy, terror, and unrestrained evil, believers need God’s supernatural strength more than ever. They need God-given stability in order to stand firm, stability that stems from the Truth of the Gospel. God will protect you through the storms. He will guide you through the turbulent times of persecution. The Lord will steady you and stabilize you during the time of testing. God will be your fortress when all others collapse into dust.

How can you be sure the Lord will never let you down? Jesus said, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39). How many will He lose? Not a single one. Jesus will never abandon you. He has promised to hold on to you to the end.

Do you know that God chose you and called you out of the world to be His child? Before the foundations of the world were laid, God looked down through history, saw you, loved you, and chose you in Christ. Think about this. Remember it dearly. Come back to it regularly. Nothing will pull you out of your circumstances more quickly and lift you up to the portals of heaven more completely than realizing that He loved you, knew you, and called you by name before history began. That’s the kind of stability you can build a life on.

Therefore, let Satan do his worst. Let the man of lawlessness be revealed. Let all hell break loose. We will not be shaken. We will not be moved. We will not be intimidated. We will stand firm, confident that we are held in our loving Father’s hands; that we are cradled in His arms; that we are the apple of His eye.

Stability cannot be found in our circumstances. It won’t be found in politics and politicians either. The economy offers no guarantee of security, and the approval of other people is fleeting. True stability and security can only be found in God’s sovereign choice of us, in His calling upon our lives. The strength of God will stabilize you in the stormy days to come. He is faithful and will keep you from stumbling.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for choosing me as Your child before the foundations of the world. Because You know and love me, I have confidence that I will not be moved or shaken—the Most High God holds me in His hands. What a gift is Your presence. I take shelter in Your strength and lovingkindness. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.