A surgical device, comprising: a handle having an actuation mechanism coupled thereto; a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle, the shaft assembly including an outer elongate shell defining an inner lumen, and the shaft assembly including first and second elongate members (36a, 36b) extending longitudinally within the inner lumen; and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly; wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to be actuated by a user so as to simultaneously cause a first force to be applied to one of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b), and thereby cause the one of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b) to slidably translate proximally and longitudinally within the inner lumen, and cause a second force to be applied to the other of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b), and thereby cause the other of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b) to slidably translate distally and longitudinally within the inner lumen, the translation of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b) causing articulation of the end effector wherein the shaft assembly includes first and second elongate tubes (40a, 40b), the first elongate member being positioned within the first elongate tube in a fixed position relative thereto, the second elongate member being positioned within the second elongate tube in a fixed position relative thereto, and the actuation mechanism being configured to move the first and second elongate tubes (40a, 40b) in response to the actuation of the actuation mechanism, thereby causing the translation of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b); and the surgical device further comprising first and second stabilizing members (35a, 35b), the first stabilizing member being attached to the first elongate tube, the second stabilizing member being attached to the second elongate tube, the actuation of the actuation mechanism being configured to simultaneously longitudinally translate the first stabilizing member, thereby causing the longitudinal translation of the first elongate member, and longitudinally translate the second stabilizing member, thereby causing the longitudinal translation of the second elongate member. a handle having an actuation mechanism coupled thereto; a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle, the shaft assembly including an outer elongate shell defining an inner lumen, and the shaft assembly including first and second elongate members (36a, 36b) extending longitudinally within the inner lumen; and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly; wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to be actuated by a user so as to simultaneously cause a first force to be applied to one of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b), and thereby cause the one of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b) to slidably translate proximally and longitudinally within the inner lumen, and cause a second force to be applied to the other of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b), and thereby cause the other of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b) to slidably translate distally and longitudinally within the inner lumen, the translation of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b) causing articulation of the end effector wherein the shaft assembly includes first and second elongate tubes (40a, 40b), the first elongate member being positioned within the first elongate tube in a fixed position relative thereto, the second elongate member being positioned within the second elongate tube in a fixed position relative thereto, and the actuation mechanism being configured to move the first and second elongate tubes (40a, 40b) in response to the actuation of the actuation mechanism, thereby causing the translation of the first and second elongate members (36a, 36b); and the surgical device further comprising first and second stabilizing members (35a, 35b), the first stabilizing member being attached to the first elongate tube, the second stabilizing member being attached to the second elongate tube, the actuation of the actuation mechanism being configured to simultaneously longitudinally translate the first stabilizing member, thereby causing the longitudinal translation of the first elongate member, and longitudinally translate the second stabilizing member, thereby causing the longitudinal translation of the second elongate member.