How to Cope when you are Unsettled
UNSETTLED.
Lacking direction.
Without purpose.
Worried.
Anxious.
Troubled.
Unpredictable.
Agitated.
Unsettled.
Have you ever experienced a season of life where it seemed impossible to see the end from the beginning?
Have you felt like you’d never be able to breathe again, struggling to surface from the depths of your struggles?
Do you yearn for a sense of stability and peace?
My friends, I’ve been there too. I’ve been through numerous seasons of life that felt like this. And I want to share with you that the only way to overcome those unsettled feelings is to turn to the wisdom of the Word. By seeking God’s truth, we can discover our true selves in Christ and find our direction.
Join me for a quick study 1 Peter 5:10.
Historical Context of 1 Peter.
The apostle Peter wrote the Book of 1 Peter, most likely in Rome, around AD 62–67. These years were marked by turmoil and tragedy in the Roman Empire, especially for Christians. Here’s a glimpse into what was happening at the time:
The city of Rome was burned, and rumors spread that Emperor Nero himself had set the fires.
The destruction left Romans devastated. Their culture, religion, homes, and families were reduced to ashes.
To redirect the people’s hostility, Nero scapegoated the Christians, already viewed with suspicion and hatred.
Nero spread false accusations that the Christians were responsible for the fires, igniting a brutal wave of persecution against them.
This persecution wasn’t limited to verbal attacks or discrimination. Christians were tortured, brutally murdered, and forced to flee their homes. Peter refers to these Christians as “pilgrims,” acknowledging their displacement and suffering.
Why Peter Wrote This Letter
Peter wrote this epistle to strengthen and encourage these “pilgrims” in their faith. These were believers who had lost everything—homes, families, security, and even hope. Many of them likely felt homeless, helpless, and hopeless as they faced unimaginable persecution.
While we may never fully understand the depth of suffering these early Christians endured, we can see why Peter’s words were so vital. His message reminded them—and reminds us—that suffering is not the end of the story. Instead, it is part of a divine process through which God perfects, establishes, strengthens, and settles us.
Homeless . . . . Helpless . . . . Hopeless.
We’ve all been there.
Homeless
Unsettled in your place in life.
You can’t “lay your head” on an idea or a decision. You feel unable to “unpack your bags,” fearing that another wave of challenges or persecution is just around the corner. It’s as though you’re wandering—“homeless” in the emotional or spiritual sense—without a place to rest or feel secure.
Perhaps this season of homelessness is an opportunity for God to establish something new in your life.
Maybe He is preparing to build a new home for you—one better than you had before, one deeply rooted in His plans and purposes.
Helpless
Unsettled in your inability to change your situation.
You’ve done everything you can think of to fix where you are. You’ve prayed, fasted, sought the Lord, worshiped, praised, cried, and pleaded. You’ve rearranged your life—new clothes, new job, therapy, Bible studies, and everything in between. Yet nothing has worked. You feel powerless, stuck, and so very unsettled.
Sometimes, helplessness isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a call to surrender. Not every situation can be prayed or worked away. Some seasons require walking through them, step by step, with God’s hand guiding you. Just as Moses didn’t lead the Israelites around the Red Sea, God led them through it.
Hopeless
Unsettled in the current season of your life that you see no way forward.
Like those early Christians Peter wrote to, you feel as though the life you once knew has burned to the ground. You’ve endured terrible things—pain, betrayal, loss, and disappointment. Hopelessness creeps in, and it feels as though this season will never end. You’ve stopped dreaming or hoping because it seems pointless. You know God promises you a hope and a future, but right now, you’re so weary that it feels impossible to believe.
Even in this season, hope isn’t out of reach. It may feel distant, but God is gently inviting you to hold onto it. To dream again. To believe that there is a sunrise after this long night. No matter how dark or endless this season feels, don’t give up. Keep moving forward, step by step, trusting that hope is waiting for you just ahead.
Coping with a Season of Unsettling
If you are in a season of unsettling, take heart—God has already provided us with the tools to cope. He, in His grace and mercy, knew that seasons like this would come and go in our lives. Through His Word, He offers us hope and guidance to navigate these difficult times.
1. You Are Called to Glory
In 1 Peter 5:10, Peter reminds us that God has called us to His eternal glory. You were not called to live an unsettled life. While this may be a part of your current journey, it is not your final destination. You are simply passing through this season. It will pass. It will end. And at the end of it, there will be glory.
The Greek word for glory in this passage is doxa, which translates to honor, praise, and worship.
Dear friend, you are called to honor, not to remain homeless, helpless, or hopeless. This season may feel heavy, but there will come a time when you will worship again, praise again, and sing again. Give this season to The Chief Musician and let Him transform the unsettling into a beautiful symphony.
2. He Will Perfect You
Peter also tells us that God will perfect us. The Greek word used here is katartizō, which means to complete thoroughly, to repair, to mend, to restore, to make perfect.
In this unsettling season, take comfort in knowing that God is actively mending you. He isn’t doing a quick patch job or fixing just a few things. He is completing you thoroughly. Every broken piece is in His hands, and He is restoring you fully.
This time of suffering isn’t meaningless—it’s a season of restoration and renewal. While it may feel overwhelming, trust that God is putting you back together in ways you can’t yet see. His work in you is intentional, and His goal is to make you whole again.
3. He Is Establishing and Strengthening You
The Greek word here is stērizō, which means “to stand, to make stable, to turn in a certain direction.”
In this time of uncertainty, God is doing more than you can see—He is establishing you and giving you the strength to endure. I know it doesn’t always feel that way. It feels like we’re wandering, falling apart, lost without purpose or direction. We feel weak and utterly weary.
But here’s the truth: those are just emotions and feelings, and feelings lie to us all the time!
The Word of God, however, never lies. So even when you feel unstable or directionless, you can rest in the assurance that God is at work. He is causing you to stand. He is making you stable. He is turning you toward the path He has planned for you.
In this process, He’s giving you a renewed sense of purpose and the strength you need for the journey ahead. What feels like weakness is simply the space where His strength will shine through.
4. He Is Settling You
The Greek word for “settling” is themelioō, meaning “to lay a foundation.” Sometimes God allows certain things in our lives to burn away—not to harm us, but to tear down anything that isn’t Him. It’s painful, messy, and often hard to understand, but it is absolutely necessary.
In this season, God is building a new foundation in your life—one that is stronger, steadier, and rooted in Him. While it may feel like everything is falling apart, He is preparing to rebuild something beautiful, something that rests firmly on The Solid Rock. This new foundation will sustain you, guide you, and give you a future filled with His purpose and glory.
. . . a little while . . .
In my years of unsettling, I found incredible hope and peace in 1 Peter 5:10. Toward the end of this verse, Peter writes, “After you have suffered a little while.”
My dear friends, this suffering you’re enduring will not last forever. It’s temporary. It’s just for a little while.
I can’t tell you exactly when you’ll feel settled, established, or perfected. I don’t know how long it will take for the pieces to fall into place. But what I do know is this: your suffering has an expiration date. It is not eternal. It is not forever. It’s just for a little while.
Take comfort in this promise. God is working, even now, to bring you through this season. Trust Him, hold on, and cling to the hope that His grace and glory are waiting on the other side.
Hold on.
Hold on.
You have been called to glory.
You are being perfected and established.
You are being strengthened.
Our suffering is only here for a little while . . .
And we are on our way to becoming. . . .
Settled.
