When the World Shakes: Finding Faith and Stability in Uncertain Times

When the world feels like it’s shaking beneath my feet, my instinct is to grab onto something stable. But why is it shaking in the first place? Why the fear and anxiety — what purpose does it serve?

The Earth Trembled at Revelation

When God gave the Torah to the Jewish people, there was an earthquake. As it says in the Song of Devorah: “O Lord, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the field of Edom, the earth trembled; the heavens poured, the clouds poured water.” The ground itself shook.

Why? Why did everything need to tremble when God revealed Himself?

Because in that moment, the world understood that everything comes from God. Reality could no longer continue as it had before. When everything shakes, a person begins to sense how small they are, and how great God is.

When Stability Feeds Ego

As long as everything feels stable, we are filled with ego. We occupy the space with our own thoughts, words, and sense of control. There is little room for God in our hearts or in our world.

However when everything trembles, a person suddenly feels small. Stability disappears. We begin to worry about our homes, our security, our future, and in that moment, we are reminded of something we often forget: the world is not ours.

Remembering What Is Eternal

We entered a world that already existed before us. We are given stable lives, good lives, but they are not ours to control. The Torah existed before the world. Our souls existed before the world. And life does not simply disappear — we are part of something far greater and eternal.

A Message of Strength and Faith

This is the message we must tell ourselves, and our children:

We exist. We are alive. We are eternal. We are part of a people with a unique strength — among the first to help others, the first to receive truth at Mount Sinai. That is our foundation.

Our strength is not in denying fear, but in knowing what is certain. There is a Creator, there is meaning, and there is continuity.

With that awareness, we can stand strong, even when the world around us feels unsteady.