Gospel Life Learning | Faith and Soul Care Podcast: How Do We Anchor Our Souls In A World That Is Chaotic & Divided? | Hebrews 6:19; 12:26-27 | Hebrew Meaning of "Perfect Peace"| Meaning of "Be Still" raphah Psalm 46:10

Today, I want to speak directly to the soul that’s feeling disoriented - discouraged - by everything going on in the world right now. Have you felt it too? The weight of the chaos. I have now hit the point – 5 years post covid shut down – where honestly I have gone numb. The anger, the division, the fear in the news cycle, the confusion about what’s true, the constant pessimism?

It feels like shifting ground beneath our feet.

But here's what I want to tell you today:

...as the world grows more chaotic, that's not our cue to panic—that’s our signal to come closer to God.

This is what I regularly teach – whenever you have any problem – whether it be a personal problem that you have a little control over or one that you have no control over - or whether it’s a problem in the world that you have no control over. The key question to choosing the right option for problem solving is this key question: Is how I am working to handle this or resolve this – is the option I’ve chosen bringing me closer to God? Or is it taking me further away? The decisions we make in response to stress and problems in our lives – when we have options – the option that is more likely to bring us closer to God – that is always the best option. That is where our soul will find peace, safety, and comfort that cannot be shaken.

Let’s start with a foundational truth from James 1:17. It says:

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” — James 1:17

That phrase “does not change like shifting shadows” is so powerful. In the Greek, it’s “par' alloiosis tropēs,” meaning no variation, no turning, no flickering. In other words - God is steady. He is unmoved. He is not unstable. He’s not like the world or the news or even our own emotions.

While the world shifts, shadows change, and headlines swirl - God remains the same.

And not only is He steady, but He is good to those who love Him. The verse starts by reminding us that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. So when life feels fragmented or frightening, we need to remember that our true source of goodness doesn’t come from circumstances. It comes from a good Father who never changes.

And speaking of the good and perfect gifts that come from God - it is those things that are unshakeable.

James 1:17 tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” These aren't just earthly blessings - they are the unshakeable gifts of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Unlike the temporary comforts of the world, these fruits remain steady and strong, even in seasons of shaking.

They are the evidence of God’s presence within us - gifts that cannot be taken away by chaos or circumstance.

Let’s be real: it’s easy to get swept up in the heaviness of everything happening around us. But the Word of God calls us to look up and remember that this is not new. God has always been the anchor for His people in chaotic times.

Today I shared with my Faith and Soul Care online group – that one of my favorite verses of all time is Hebrews “We have this hope as an anchor for our souls.” And that hope, as the word is used in the original language - is not like modern hope - it is not wishful thinking - it is a confident expectation in Christ.

Our Confident Expectation in the Lord is what anchors our souls during difficult and chaotic times.

Hebrews 12:27 tells us that “what can be shaken—that is, created things—will be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” This verse reminds us that God allows shaking—not to harm us, but to refine us. When everything around us is unstable, it's an invitation to cling to what is eternal. Only God’s Kingdom, His promises, and His presence are unshakable. In the shaking, He’s stripping away false securities so that our soul can rest on a solid foundation of that which cannot be removed.

Now let's look at the word underlying "removed" - metathesis (μετάθεσις)

This word means change of place, transfer, or removal. It’s the same root used in Hebrews 11:5 to describe Enoch being taken up. Here, it refers to the complete removal of what is temporary or man-made. Man made temporary structures such as religions, human kingdoms, or worldly systems. It’s a full clearing away so that only the things anchored to God remain.

Because we know that those things that are not anchored to God tend to collapse under pressure. What are the things that won’t collapse and will remain permanently? The good gifts from God, and the works of His kingdom, and His works in us.

Closing:

God allows shaking to remove what is temporary so that what is eternal can shine through. In the original language - the contrast is super clear—what is man-made and shakeable vs. what is divinely established and unshakeable.

So when life is shaken, we can take heart:

God is not breaking us down; He’s revealing the things that last.

So what to do now? I think Psalm 46:10 speaks straight to our modern souls. It says:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

"Being still” is not just about outer quiet—though that can help—it’s about an inner surrender. It’s the Hebrew word “raphah” (רָפָה), meaning to let go, to release. It meant to let go of your fretting and let go of your striving. It’s like God is saying.

“Let go of trying to hold it all together. Let go of your grip on the chaos. Know that I am God—and I am holding you.”

So how do we keep our soul grounded when the world feels pessimistic, divided, or chaotic?

Let me share three soul care truths to hold onto:

1. Remember What Is Unchanging

When everything around us is shifting, cling to what is eternal: God’s character, God’s promises, and God’s presence do not change.

He’s not only our Savior - He is our unchanging center. He is our anchor for our wearied souls. He doesn’t shift with culture. He doesn’t bend to trends. His stays the same.

2. Filter the Noise Through the Word

The world now is loud and screaming. But the Word of God speaks quietly and in peace.

Isaiah 26:3 says:

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

The Hebrew phrase “perfect peace” is actually “shalom shalom”—a double emphasis. It means complete peace, whole peace, peace in all directions. And that kind of peace comes not from numbing out or ignoring the world, - as I have described earlier in that I feel numb about all that is happening oftentimes – but it is by fixing our minds on the Lord.

To help filter the noise Consider scrolling through Scripture at least two to three times more than it scrolls through the dark and doomy news.

3. Let the Chaos Be You Signal to Draw You Closer

Instead of letting all the noise and negativity drain your hope, let it drive you to Jesus. It’s an opportunity to come near.

And remember the beauty in John 1:5 which tells us:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Darkness doesn’t get the final say.

So what does this mean practically?

It means you can anchor your soul—not in what’s happening around you—but in Who is with you and within you.

Thank you for joining me today. If this article or this episode gave you something to hold on to, would you share it with a friend? Let’s spread hope, not fear. Let’s anchor deeply in God, together.

Until next time, stay grounded in grace.

Gratefully,

Sherry

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