About Never Shakes

We wrote Never Shakes Never Will in the dawning weeks of the 2020 pandemic, wanting to create a song for uncertain and tumultuous times. The verses grapple with the reality that evil can shake so much of life, rocking even things that seem certain. Jesus doesn’t promise enduring friendships, financial stability, and lack of troubles in this life. Rather, he promises to be with us, to be steadfast in love, and to work even turbulent and painful times for our good and his glory. Our eternal destiny, our place in His heart and His kingdom, and our greatest joy remain unshakable.

The text is inspired from three psalms that each—in their own way—look to the Lord for help in times of trouble. Our goal was not to set these psalm texts to music, but rather to use them to inspire a new lyrical expression that draws from their truth.

Here are the primary verses:

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

    which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

    so the Lord surrounds his people

    both now and forevermore.

—Psalm 125:1-2

This is the heartbeat of the song. In this moment, and all future ones, our Father encircles us with the power and stability of grand mountains.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.

—Psalm 121:1

Originally this was sung on the way to Jerusalem, as the people of God looked at the temples to various idols sitting atop the hills. Our chorus takes this idea but contrasts it to looking heavenward to God—as if to say, the only unshakable mountain is the Lord.

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.


Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,


though its waters roar and foam

    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

    the holy place where the Most High dwells.


God is within her, she will not fall.

—Psalm 46:1-5

The verses of Never Shakes are inspired by this text as we asked: what modern troubles do we feel? Maybe it’s not the earth giving way (aside from those living in California…), but perhaps it’s the economy crumbling or community deserting us.

Lastly, our favorite line sits in the bridge: “his river runs to make me glad.” We love how the psalmist uses this image of a river in the midst of God’s people that brings joy—abiding joy in the presence of God. We wanted the song not only to point to the steadfastness of God, but also the joy in His presence. God’s children are not only protected, but invited to delight. Wherever his river runs, people flourish, vineyards grow, springs gush forth, and wedding feasts arise again and again.