The Psalmist's question in Psalm 11:3 cuts deep: "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" This cry resonates through the ages, echoing during times of personal turbulence, societal unrest, or when the very things we hold dear seem to crumble around us.

Imagine losing a loved one, facing financial hardship, or witnessing the breakdown of societal norms. These experiences can shake our sense of security and leave us feeling lost and uncertain.

But the Psalmist doesn't stop at the question. He provides the answer, not in external solutions, but in an inward source of strength: faith in God. The righteous, those who choose to live uprightly before God, find their foundation not in fleeting earthly structures, but in the everlasting love and faithfulness of God. This unwavering trust serves as an anchor, offering stability even when the ground beneath us seems to shift.

Remember the examples recorded for us in Scripture of those who experienced the shaking of their foundations yet held on to their faith. They testify to us of God’s faithfulness: Job, stripped of wealth, family, and health, clung to God, uttering the powerful words: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15). Nehemiah returned to his beloved Jerusalem and the walls had been destroyed. He turned his gaze to the Lord, rallying the people to rebuild. Paul, shipwrecked and facing potential death, remained faithful and even encouraged his companions (Acts 27). And there are many others. These examples are a well of encouragement and faith when real trouble comes. 

Jesus is not surprised, Jesus is not shaken by the chaos. Jesus is our firm foundation. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. Praise the Name of Jesus!

Dear Heavenly Father,

I confess that I trust too much in knowing the right answers as if You will test knowledge rather than character. I say, “Jesus is my rock, my sure foundation.” But is my character really built on Jesus or on the correct religious answers that hide the shifting sands? I thank You that Your eyes examine me. Let me not be surprised with fiery coals and burning sulfur. Make my trust and surrender complete so I am counted among the righteous when the foundations are destroyed. Lord Jesus, I need Your help to even know what to do, much less to do it. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Pause for a moment. Can you specifically identify the core values and beliefs by which you measure your life's meaning and purpose? Are these foundations built on shifting sands or on the solid rock of obeying God’s word? If you recognize the need to rebuild a foundation based on the Word of God, praise God and do what He has mercifully shown you.