Three Ways to Stay Unshaken When Life Gets Heavy

We've all been there smiling for everyone else while silently carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. You show up, hold it all together, but inside you're feeling exhausted. When the unexpected phone call comes, when doors close, or when lonely nights make you question your strength, it's easy to feel like crumbling.

But here's the truth: unshaken women don't crumble. They anchor deeper.

When the waves rise, we don't drown. Instead, we dig our roots deeper into our faith. Today, I want to share three powerful principles that have carried me through my hardest seasons and helped me rise stronger each time.

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1. Pause, But Don't Panic

When chaos hits, our first instinct is often to fix it immediately. We rush into action, trying to control the uncontrollable. But sometimes, God is whispering to us: "Be still and know that I am God."

The pause invites peace in before we take the next step. The enemy loves to make us rush, to make mistakes while trying to fix things ourselves, knowing we can't. When we move in fear instead of faith, we lose sight of what truly matters.

Pausing doesn't mean you're weak—it means you're wise enough to protect your peace while listening for divine direction. Even Jesus himself withdrew to quiet places to pray. The pause gives heaven time to respond.

I remember a season when I was juggling too much: ministry, business, family, and countless other commitments. Everything felt urgent. One morning, I simply stopped. I turned off my phone, sat with my journal, and asked, "Lord, what would you have me to do today?"

That pause reset my spirit. It was then I realized that peace is a power move. When you have peace, you can begin to move like never before.

Take a moment today to pause. Turn off the noise. Ask God what He wants you to focus on. Make a list of the most important things, not the most urgent things. Let the pause become your reset button.

2. Pray Through It, Not Around It

Sometimes we want to pray away the storm, but the truth is some storms are meant to strengthen us, not stop us. When you pray your way through it, your storm becomes your sanctuary.

Prayer doesn't just change the situation—it changes us. It calms the noise long enough for us to hear what God is saying. We don't have to avoid how we feel; we need to bring those feelings to God. Cry if you must. Be vulnerable. Tell Him you don't understand.

Here's something powerful I've discovered: worship will bring peace even in the middle of pain. When you worship in the middle of your storm, the winds lose their power over you.

I remember kneeling and praying, asking the Lord to help me, telling Him I didn't understand what I was supposed to be doing. In that moment of vulnerability, the peace of God rose through the panic. The storm didn't stop, but my heart stopped trembling. The peace rose up in me, and the trembling stopped.

Don't pray around your problems—pray through them. Bring your raw emotions to God. Worship even when you don't feel like it. Watch how your perspective shifts when you invite God into the eye of your storm.

3. Partner with People of Purpose

You can't build strength in isolation. The people you surround yourself with determine how you'll stand when life shakes around you.

We need to be intentional about our circle. Not everyone can be in your inner circle because not everyone has the same mindset. And that's okay. But we must discern who will lift us up and who will tear us down.

Purpose-driven women lift each other up. Ecclesiastes 4:9 reminds us that two are better than one, for if one falls, the other can lift her up. We need a community of sisters who will see our strength even when we can't see it ourselves.

That's why creating spaces for women to connect is so important. Iron sharpens iron, and purpose needs partnership. Without the right community, we will burn out. When life gets heavy, we don't need to go silent—we need to reach out to sisters who can strengthen us.

Together, we rise unshaken.

A Question to Reflect On

Where am I losing peace because I'm trying to control what only God can calm?

Let that question sit with you. Write it down in your journal. Let the Holy Spirit highlight what you're still gripping too tightly. Then release it. Surrender is where supernatural strength begins.

You Are Not Alone

This is your reminder: You are not broken. You are unshaken. You are unstoppable, and you are chosen. The storms you go through do not define you—your strength does.

Remember these three principles when life gets heavy:

• Pause, but don't panic – Protect your peace and listen for God's direction

• Pray through it, not around it – Let your storm become your sanctuary

• Partner with people of purpose – Surround yourself with women who lift you up

You were not meant to weather the storm alone. You are unshaken, unstoppable, and you don't have to apologize for who you are in Christ. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

So keep stepping out with purpose, knowing that through God's grace and a community of like-minded women, you can make it through anything. Your struggle is not the only struggle, but together, we can rise above it all.

Ready to anchor deeper in your faith with a community of purpose-driven women? Consider joining a journey of growth, faith, and empowerment where you belong to a community that builds each other up.

In the meantime, you can also explore more about our new project here:

The Stepping Out Unshaken: 52-Week Women's Journal Collaboration

Learn More Here: https://stepping-out.my.canva.site/dr-val

Website: www.steppingoutwithpurpose.com 

With Purpose and Power,

Dr. Valarie W. Harris

Visionary Author & Empowerment Coach

Founder, Stepping Out with Purpose, LLC