Episode 82

The news continually gives evidence to the shaking going on in the world. From the people in Cuba protesting against the oppressive communist regime to the polarization of the United States citizens with differing ideologies, to the effects of the COVID-19 virus that refuses to go away, these dreadful circumstances can easily make us feel shaken. In times like these, we need to fix our gaze on God and declare: When I can’t rely on anything else, I can rely on God’s peace and love. My husband and I are small business owners, and like so many businesses affected by the COVID-19 lockdowns, ours has been struggling financially. We pray and pray for circumstances to change, but they don’t. We live in California, which was one of the first states to shut down and among the last to open. Our governor is facing a recall election because of his handling of the pandemic. And that’s not the only “shaking” we’ve been through. If you live in California, then you know that the earth is literally shaking. I’ve felt more earthquakes over the past year than I’ve felt in multiple previous years combined. But God promised us through the prophet Isaiah, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” Do you believe that? I do! And I want to remember that promise, and commit to relying on God—especially when my finances or anything else I might be tempted to rely on prove to be insufficient. Let’s declare our reliance on the God of peace and love. Longing to Belong: Discovering the Joy of Acceptance is available for purchase on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Walmart.com, Booksamillion.com and Christianbook.com. It’s also available for download to your Kindle or from the Apple store for your iBooks app. Or visit my website to purchase a copy at shawnamariebryant.com Enjoy this 10-Day Reading Plan on the YouVersion Bible App This week's scripture: Isaiah 54:10