How to Stay Unshaken When Life Feels Out of Control

Trade your fear for faith and discover the supernatural confidence God promises His children.

How do you stay strong when life feels out of control?

What do you do when the doctor’s report isn’t what you hoped for, your finances are under pressure, or a relationship is falling apart?

These are questions every believer faces.

The good news is that God never intended for His children to live controlled by fear, anxiety, or uncertainty. Through faith in His promises, you can experience supernatural confidence even when everything around you seems unstable.

That’s what it means to live unshaken.

Over many years of ministry, I’ve spoken with countless people facing overwhelming battles—health crises, financial setbacks, broken relationships, and seasons of deep uncertainty. While every situation is different, I’ve discovered one unchanging truth: God remains faithful, and His promises remain secure.

Even when we feel like nothing is happening, God is working behind the scenes. He is strengthening our hearts, deepening our faith, and preparing us for what lies ahead. You may not always understand His plan, but you can trust His character. As Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

A friend once told me, “There is no greater discovery than seeing God as the author of your destiny.”

I’ve never forgotten those words.

Too often, we live as though we’re drifting through life at the mercy of circumstances. Yet Scripture paints a very different picture. God is actively involved in the lives of His children. He sees the beginning and the end. He knows every challenge you’ll face and every victory He has prepared for you.

We can rest secure knowing the God of the universe is guiding our steps—not only because He is all-powerful, but because He loves us as His sons and daughters.

So let me ask you a question:

What’s holding you back from claiming the promises God has already given you?

God’s plan for your life doesn’t end in the valley. He is moving you through difficult seasons and toward the fulfillment of His purpose. The enemy would love to use your struggles to convince you that God has forgotten you. But nothing could be further from the truth.

God has already provided everything you need to make it through this season and emerge stronger on the other side.

What Does the Bible Say About Being Unshaken?

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reminds His people that true security is found in Him—not in circumstances.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Psalm 56:3).

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

These promises don’t guarantee a life without challenges. They guarantee something even better: God’s presence in the middle of those challenges.

No matter what you’re facing today, His faithfulness remains unchanged.

All the Tools You Need

The truth is that God has an incredible purpose for your life—one overflowing with peace, hope, purpose, and blessing.

As His child, you are an heir to the promises of God.

The enemy will certainly attempt to discourage you, distract you, and derail you. Yet he cannot overcome the favor, authority, and provision God has made available to you through Christ.

The question is, which path will you choose?

God’s way or the world’s way?

Faith or fear?

Obedience or compromise?

God has already given us everything we need to overcome.

He’s given us His Word to guide us, prayer to strengthen us, the Holy Spirit to empower us, and His promises to anchor our souls.

When fear attacks, we can stand on Scripture.

When uncertainty rises, we can pray.

When discouragement comes, we can remember God’s faithfulness.

The resources of Heaven are available to every believer who chooses to trust Him.

Learning from Joshua

I can’t help but think about Joshua.

Here was a man who demonstrated remarkable courage in the face of impossible odds. He knew God had promised Israel the land, but he also understood that giants stood between the people and their inheritance.

Joshua did not ignore the giants.

He simply believed God was greater than the giants.

That’s an important distinction.

Faith isn’t pretending problems don’t exist.

Faith is choosing to trust God’s promises more than your fears.

The same principle applies today. Whether your giant is financial pressure, a health challenge, a broken relationship, or an uncertain future, God’s power remains greater than every obstacle standing in your path.

God doesn’t want you standing on the sidelines wishing things would change.

He calls you to move forward in faith and take hold of what He has promised.

He is calling you to live unshaken.

The Battle Is the Lord’s

In Numbers 13, God instructed Moses to send twelve spies into the Promised Land.

After forty days, ten returned with a troubling report:

“We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large” (Numbers 13:27-28).

Ten of the spies saw God’s promise, but they focused on the obstacles. They saw abundance, but they also saw giants. And because they focused on the giants, fear took hold.

Joshua and Caleb saw the very same circumstances, yet their response was completely different:

“Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30).

Why?

Because they believed God’s promise was greater than the challenge before them.

Unfortunately, the people listened to the fearful report and spent forty more years wandering in the wilderness.

How often do we do the same thing?

God places an opportunity before us, but fear convinces us we can’t move forward. We focus on what could go wrong instead of what God can do.

Yet God’s Word continually calls us to a different response. Instead of retreating in fear, we are called to advance in faith. Instead of magnifying the problem, we are called to magnify the Lord.

Jesus spoke of the determination required to pursue the things of God when He said, “The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

The Christian life was never meant to be passive. We’re called to stand firm, fight the good fight of faith, and pursue God’s promises with confidence.

If you belong to Christ, your battle is ultimately the Lord’s. Don’t allow any giant to intimidate you or keep you from God’s best.

The obstacles may be real, but they are not greater than the God who goes before you. The giants may still be standing in front of you today, but they do not have the final word.

God’s promises are greater than your obstacles. His power is greater than your weakness. His faithfulness is greater than your fears.

If you belong to Christ, your future is not determined by the size of the battle but by the greatness of the God who fights for you.

Stand firm.

Stay faithful.

Remain unshaken.

Your Promised Land is still ahead.

Let me pray over you today.

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have not given my friend a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. I pray that they would choose today to keep their eyes on You and not on the giants in their path.

I ask for the spirit of Joshua and Caleb for them—a heart that is unshaken by circumstances and fully persuaded of Your promises. Grant them the boldness to move forward, the strength to take back what the enemy has stolen, and the faith to possess the abundance You have prepared for them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your friend,

David Cerullo

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Faith During Difficult Times

Why does God allow believers to go through hard seasons?
Difficult seasons often become the places where our faith grows deepest. Throughout Scripture, God used wilderness experiences to prepare people for greater assignments. Joseph endured prison before the palace. David faced years of testing before becoming king. While we may not always understand God’s timing, we can trust that He wastes nothing and works through every season for His purposes.

What is the difference between faith and positive thinking?
Positive thinking focuses on hoping circumstances improve. Biblical faith is confidence in God’s character and promises regardless of circumstances. Faith is not rooted in optimism; it is rooted in the reliability of God.

How can I encourage someone who is struggling spiritually?
One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is your presence. Listen to them, pray with them, remind them of God’s promises, and encourage them to stay connected to other believers. Often people don’t need quick answers as much as they need a faithful friend’s support.

What are some practical ways to strengthen my faith every day?
Consistent habits make a tremendous difference. Spend time in God’s Word, maintain a regular prayer life, worship daily, keep company with faith-filled believers, and regularly reflect on ways God has been faithful in the past. Faith grows as we continually place ourselves in environments where God’s truth is reinforced.

What should I do when God’s answer seems delayed?
A delayed answer is not necessarily a denied answer. Some of God’s greatest works happen during seasons of waiting. Use those moments to draw closer to Him, deepen your trust, and allow Him to shape your character. God’s timing is always connected to His wisdom and His love.