When Life Shakes Your Faith

Psalm 62:1–12

STORY / CONTEXT

We’ve all experienced moments when the ground beneath us seems to shake. An unexpected diagnosis, a broken relationship, the loss of a loved one, or a season of uncertainty can leave us feeling overwhelmed and searching for stability.

In Psalm 62, David reminds us that even when life feels uncertain, God remains our rock, our salvation, and our refuge.

Three circumstances often cause the ground beneath us to shake:

• The Brevity of Life — Psalm 39:4–5; 62:9
  Life is fleeting, and unexpected losses or major transitions remind us how little control we have.
• The Person in Distress — Psalm 62:3–4
  Betrayal, opposition, suffering, and difficult circumstances can leave us feeling shaken.
• The Silence of God — Psalm 62:1, 5
  Sometimes we pray and wait, wondering why God hasn’t answered or intervened.

When these moments come, where do we turn? David gives us three responses.

1. WAIT ON GOD

Psalm 62:1, 5

“For God alone my soul waits in silence.”

Waiting on God isn’t passive. It’s an intentional, expectant posture of quieting our hearts before Him.

• In verse 1, David describes his soul waiting in silence.
• In verse 5, David commands his soul to wait in silence.
• Sometimes waiting comes naturally; other times, we must remind ourselves to be still before God.
• Regular time alone with God in prayer and His Word prepares us for life’s unexpected difficulties.

When life shakes us, we must learn to wait on God ALONE.

2. TRUST IN GOD

Psalm 62:8a; Proverbs 3:5–6

“Trust in him at all times, O people.”

God calls us to trust Him in every circumstance, not just when life is going according to plan.

• Our trust must remain steady even when our circumstances are not.
• Trusting God means depending on His wisdom rather than our own understanding.
• God promises to direct our paths, even when the way forward is difficult.
• If we can trust God for eternal salvation, we can trust Him for daily direction.

The ground beneath us may shake, but the God we trust never changes.

3. PRAY TO GOD

Psalm 62:8b

“Pour out your heart before him.”

When life becomes overwhelming, prayer should be our first response, not our last alternative.

• Prayer allows us to bring our fears, frustrations, grief, and uncertainty before God.
• Prayer gives us perspective and reminds us that God alone is our source of security.
• David describes God as our rock, fortress, and refuge—someone we can depend on when everything else feels unstable.
• Prayer stills our souls and strengthens our faith.

When the ground beneath us shakes, we must look above us in prayer.

SUMMARY / APPLICATION

Psalm 62:11–12

David concludes by reminding us of two unchanging truths about God:

• God has the POWER to act on our behalf.
• God has the LOVE that moves Him to care for us.

God is not only able to help us; He is willing.

When life shakes your faith:

1. WAIT on God — Be still before Him.
2. TRUST in God — Depend on Him at all times.
3. PRAY to God — Pour out your heart before Him.

We cannot control when the ground beneath us will shake, but we can choose where we place our trust.

“He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” — Psalm 62:2