08/30/2024
Shaken but Not Broken
Scripture: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” - Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
Friends, I want to share with you a deeply personal experience—something that shook me to my core. As many of you know, I recently had a major heart attack. There was a moment, as I lay there in pain, that I could almost hear the echoes of that old song: “Knock, knock, knocking on heaven’s door.” It felt like my time had come, and I was about to step into eternity.
In those moments, my faith was shaken. I questioned, “God, is this it? Is this how my story ends?” It’s natural to feel fear and uncertainty when faced with the very real prospect of death. My heart cried out with the same human frailty that we all experience in times of crisis.
But even as fear tried to take hold, I was reminded of the words from Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” This scripture became my anchor. It reminded me that no matter how close I came to heaven’s door, God was still in control.
As I reflected on what happened, I realized that Monday wasn’t my day to meet Jesus. I like to believe that God still has work for me to do here on this earth. My heart attack, as terrifying as it was, has given me a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper appreciation for each day that God grants me.
This experience has also taught me something profound about faith. Faith isn’t about never being shaken; it’s about where you turn when you are. It’s about choosing to trust God’s plan, even when it doesn’t make sense in the moment. Faith is knowing that whether we live or die, we are secure in God’s hands.
I want to encourage each of you today: life is fragile, and none of us knows the number of our days. But we do know this—God is our stronghold, our light, and our salvation. When the storms of life come, and they will, let’s choose to trust in Him.
Let’s remember that our faith isn’t defined by the absence of fear but by our decision to hold on to God even when we’re afraid. And let’s live each day with the confidence that, as long as we’re here, God has a purpose for us.
So, keep pressing forward, my friends. Trust in God’s timing, and know that whether we’re knocking on heaven’s door or walking through the valley, God is with us, and He will carry us through.
