Last week, I saw unusual photos from the city of Rancho Palos Verdes in Southern California. The landscape of the city has been moving dramatically up and down each week for the last year. Images of crumbled asphalt streets and homes tilted off their foundations were disturbing. The movement began years ago but now has increased in intensity to such a degree that a state of emergency has been declared. 

While the land has been shifting slowly for decades, the problem is now worse than ever. A city council member said, “No one knows really, in a way, what to do.” Another council member commented, “The movement has accelerated dramatically over the last 12 months, where some areas are moving up to 10 inches a week. You can almost see the ground move.”

What is happening in Rancho Palos Verdes is a natural metaphor depicting a spiritual reality. A great movement is taking place in our culture. The foundations of those parts of our lives not based solely on Jesus Christ are moving with increasing uncertainty.

The Psalmist wrote, “The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! (Psalms 46: 6). As the chaos increases, we are told, “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.  (vs. 7). In the increasing instability, only those who realize the Lord is here among in the increasing turmoil will have stability when this world and its systems begin to move in unprecedented ways expressing greater instability.

As this happens, we have a choice to make, “Be still and know that I am God!” (vs. 10). The stillness in chaos comes from knowing God is with us no matter how shaky this life becomes. The psalm ends with a repetition of that truth, “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress” (vs. 11). 

Twice in this short but profound Psalm, we are reminded that the Lord is among us, not just as the right thing for a believer to say in a moment of uncertainty, but something we will experience that has given peace to God’s people across time and through each tumultuous time in history.

God’s presence is among us in this present shaking. The stillness of His presence will bring us peace when other people’s hearts fail them thinking they are alone in the turmoil and upheaval.