What do you do when you are stuck at the crossroads, and you’ve done all you can? Stand. You. Just. Stand.
While this advice may seem counterintuitive and illogical to those of you who may be broken and collapsed due to emotional, spiritual, relational, or even physical trials, I believe it is God’s answer for you today.
How do I know?
Personal, painstaking experience. Yes, I have been on a prolonged journey to standing. And it is in this place of brokenness and pain, fear and insecurity, that God is meeting me and teaching me how to stand again.
STAND IS AN ACTION VERB
STAND.
Just one simple word. A fairly easy action. Not much thinking required.
But it is not our “go-to” position, is it?
Usually, we rely on the automatic “fight or flight” response when we face an obstacle or adversary. Sometimes we pull ourselves together, gather our resources, and prepare to fight. Other times, we run for cover hoping to protect ourselves from the flying shrapnel, waiting until the storm passes.
God offers an alternative: Stand.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
The phrase that keeps resonating with me is the inspiration for this post and upcoming blog series:
“…and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Here is how some other versions of the Bible translate this small phrase:
“and having done all, stand firm” (ESV)
“then after the battle, you will still be standing firm” (NLT)
“to stand firm in your place–fully prepared, immovable, victorious” (AMP)
“so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet” (MSG)
WHEN TO JUST STAND
Before, after, and during the battle.
There is never a time God tells us to stop standing.
Did you catch that? He does not give us an out. He does not say there is a time to run and hide. He does not mean that after we have given it our best, we can quit and sit down.
(Trust me, I have been searching for the loopholes!)
WHAT GOD SAYS HE WILL DO FOR US WHEN WE STAND
God will use his strength and power to deliver us.
…Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today.” Exodus 14:13 (MSG)
God will protect us with his armor.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)
God will stay by our side and never leave us alone.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 (ESV)
HOW TO JUST STAND
Our struggles in this life are real, powerful, and inevitable. God knows this and wants us to prepare us for the onslaught of schemes and devices the enemy will throw at us to knock us off our feet.
Whether your battle is internal or external, temporary or permanent, life-altering or mildly annoying, God’s command does not change.
God’s Word tells us we are not to be passive participants but to proactively prepare for battle by arming ourselves.
The hard days are sure to come. There will be battles. And when they do, we have to choose to stand our ground.
While our hard-wired response when we face danger may be the “fight or flight” response, we can choose God’s option instead: Stand.
Don’t attack or react aggressively. Don’t run away and hide in fear. (I have done both in the past, and neither has worked well for me!)
Stand in truth.
Stand in God’s protective armor.
Stand in freedom, knowing the battle is ultimately the Lord’s.
Stand in the knowledge of who God is and who you are in Him.
ARE YOU READY TO JUST STAND?
If you need to get back on your feet in any area of your life, I invite you to join me on this journey by meeting me, God, and others here AT THE CROSSROADS where we will learn to stand again together.
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LET’S STAND TOGETHER
A few more things I have to tell you about standing. And I feel I would be remiss if I did not let you in on these truths…
- Standing is difficult, especially when you don’t feel like moving.
- Standing stretches you in ways you cannot imagine.
- Standing can get uncomfortable.
- Standing may be misunderstood by others in your life.
But in the end, if God calls you to stand, it is precisely what you need to do.
YOU. JUST. STAND.
I’ll leave you with a powerful song: “Stand” by Britt Nicole. I pray it encourages those of you who have done all you can. Trust God and give yourself permission to just stand as you begin this week!
Erin says
Thank you, Carla! The Lord used you to speak to my heart this morning.
CarlaGasser says
I will be praying that God gives you the strength to stand in His grace and truth today, Erin!
Chinwe Ebele says
God bless you richly, sis
CarlaGasser says
Thank you! Blessings to you too!
heather says
Stand- be firm- but still, that is profoundly good advice. The Lord has been moving me through this time of stillness in Him while moving throughout my life. It’s a complex strategy I am only in the beginning of understanding. God is good.
CarlaGasser says
Yes, Heather, so much of standing involves being still. Thanks for that insightful reminder. So hard for me to do sometimes!
Lori says
Brilliantly stated.
CarlaGasser says
Thank you, Lori! Yes, I do believe that God provides us with everything we need as we stand. If you go back and read Ephesians 6:10-20, God gives every believer His armor. When we stand protected by the whole armor of God, the Bible promises that we will be able to withstand any attack from the enemy. Amen!
Stacey says
Thanks so much for this. I really needed to be reminded of these truths. My husband actually read this before me and sent it to me. It helped both of us and exactly what we needed right now. Thank you!
CarlaGasser says
So glad this spoke to you, Stacey! Sometimes it is so hard to do something so simple, but I pray God gives you and your husband whatever is needed to just stand.
Sarah D Rollandini says
What a blessing your message is to me today. Keep the reminders coming, Carla. Practical truth we can all stand on. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤
CarlaGasser says
Thank you for the words of encouragement, Sarah! Praying for you as you stand in His grace and truth!
Kedibone says
I have been hunting for a job for quiet a while. Then I decided to watch a movie(a good man is hard to find). That’s where I heard this song sang. After you’ve done all you can you just stand. When I Google I found this blog. Thank you keep lifting our spirit. Amen Carla
CarlaGasser says
I’m glad it encouraged you! I will continue to pray that the Lord helps you find a job as you stand and wait on Him!
Sarah says
Thank you for sharing your heart. God has been dealing with me to “be still” and this is just confirmation to keep going! Standing firm for victory!! -thank you!!
CarlaGasser says
Amen, Sarah! I am so thankful this post encouraged you. God is also calling me to “be still and know” (Psalm 46:10). I am praying for you as you stand firm on His promises and in His truth!
Ta-Tanissha Wills says
I thank God for you. This is just what I needed in this chapter of my life. Have a blessed weekend.
CarlaGasser says
I am so thankful this encouraged you. I will pray that God gives you the strength to keep standing! He is faithful!
Joaquin Martinez says
Thank you very much Carla for that amazing message. I don’t understand I’m thinking wow you devote lots of time to respond to these messages. Some of them receive a response time as little as half an hour which is amazing. We have a very beautiful ministry speaking life and encouraging others. Keep up the great work I actually bumped into this post because my pastor and I were talking and something we were talking about was patience. Something my pastor mention is that patience is one of the greatest actions one can take. And after reading this you said the exact same thing. Keyword for me is action. And that’s the title of my next Bible study (“ACTION” next Wednesday) and so my question is this is there a particular verse in the Bible that you recommend that talks about action if so I would love bring up that verse at my next Bible study?
CarlaGasser says
Thank you for reaching out, Joaquin! Isn’t amazing how God confirms what He trying to teach us through His Word and others? I love the story of Peter walking on water to Jesus in Matthew 14:22-33. I think there are key lessons for us to learn about ACTION–stepping out of the boat in faith–from this pasage. It invovles changing our perspective by focusing on Jesus instead of our circumstances. I hope this encourages you! Thank you so much for visiting my blog!
Joaquin Martinez says
Thank you so much for your encouragement “Willing to walk on water” is the title of the book that is correlated with what you mentioned “Peter walking on water and focusing on Jesus.” My pastor Caroline Barnett wrote that book. Hope you get to read it if you haven’t already. Blessings ?
CarlaGasser says
Thanks for the recommendation! I will check it out! Grace & peace to you!
Donna says
I stumbled across your beautiful message that reinforced my trust and faith to continue to Stand. One day, as a friend and I were interceding for our sons, the Holy Spirit spoke within me, as clear as a bell and said, NOT ONE HAIR ON HIS HEAD SHALL BE TOUCHED/HARMED. Well, you can imagine what that did to my faith! However sometime later my son who lives with me is presenting missing since Feb. 6, 2019. I must admit that this is the fiercest battle of faith I have fought. I know the battle is in the mind and emotions, especially as a mom. But I am STANDING on the Most High’s precious promise. Thank you so much for your lessons of faith and trust. I feel like Peter who said, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of YAH.” The Message
CarlaGasser says
Thank you for sharing your story and your heart, Donna. I am STANDING with you as you pray for your son. Continue to claim God’s promises and stand in truth of scripture. The battle is the Lord’s and he will fight for you and for your son. Sending you lots of love and prayers…
Travis Alexander says
God is taking to me through this powerful message this truly is a blessing
CarlaGasser says
I am thankful that God used these words to speak to you, Travis! Praying that you continue to stand strong in His grace and truth!
Christy says
Thank you so much Carla. Just right now, I was praying and laying my pain before God. I heard the word, ‘after you have done all, stand. I immediately typed that on the internet search and was directed to your page. God indeed used you explain more to me this morning. Thank you so much for allowing yourself to be used by God
CarlaGasser says
This just touches my heart, Christy! I am so very thankful that this post encouraged you to stand with God’s help. I know what it is like to be unable to stand physically (as well emotionally and spiritually), so I will be lifting you up in prayer today. God is faithful and provides exactly what we need at just the perfect time. So grateful He connected us here AT THE CROSSROADS!
Dami says
Carla,
This post has been a blessing to me in a trying season of faith and trusting.
Thank you,
Dami
CarlaGasser says
Thank you so much, Dami! I am glad this post encouraged you. May you continue to trust God as He gives you strength to stand.
Larry W. Waters says
We can never go wrong when we obey God’s word, we will be more
Than an overcomer. Thank you for such a great word & a plan to follow.
Rev. LarryW. Waters
CarlaGasser says
I completely agree, Larry! Thanks for stopping by to read this post…so thankful it encouraged you! God bless!
Gloria Carrillo says
Interesting when you start looking for biblical meaning in words and where it leads you.. To stand no matter what and trust God and refuse defeat.. Learning to take care of 89yr old mom with alzhiemers is no joke it’s like learning how to surf and I DNT know how to swim..Trusting God for My every step I encountered daily in the last 4 months.. I have been tossed by this wave over nd over until I learned to stand on surf board and coast the waves…Boy what a ride it has been when I had no clue of what I was about to confront I wanted to run as I trained but as I saw my mom in her own battle ” her journey is part of mine”. God says I ORDER YOUR STEPS/ and I refuse defeat I’m victorious in Christ, I Accept…Until my God calls mom home…
CarlaGasser says
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your story, Gloria! Praying that God gives you grace and strength as you continue to stand and sacrifice to take care of your mother. I know He will sustain and bless you for your faithfulness to Him and to her.
Rebecca Jones says
Stand in freedom, knowing the battle is ultimately the Lord’s. I like that.
CarlaGasser says
Amen! I do too…even though it is sometimes difficult to do.
Tina Marino says
Great words!! I have a similar teaching I do called Having Done All.. It’s based on the premise that many people are standing but they have NOT done all they can do before standing. So often there is more that we must do in order to stand.
CarlaGasser says
Amen! That is such great insight, Tina! Many times we think of standing as passive, but God tells us that must proactively stand in His truth. Thanks so much for sharing!
Mary says
thank you so much, i was beginning to be passive as a defence machanism i guess, feel like i have been tosed too and fro indeed, i literaly feel like a wave. some days were worse as i think i saw hell closing me in wanting to take my breath away, and i snapped out of it as i forcefully breathed, that place is horrible, i dont wish it for anyone. i read ephisians 6 and thought i should go and read up more about this standing which i did not comprehend because i believed i have been doing it, and i bumped in to this, maybe i have not been standing all this time, im trying once again, hope i do it right
CarlaGasser says
I am so grateful that you turned to the Bible for answers, Mary! Keep reading God’s Word for guidance, and God, by the power of His Spirit, will enable you to stand firm in your faith. I am praying for you!
Justice says
Powerful and insightful revelation of Ephesians 6:13. God wants us to stand through the test of time and not being downed by the onslaughts of the enemy. Whatever downs you, drowns you. It’s painstaking as you have rightly pointed out, but that is the price of the victory. I’m currently working on a book and this is one of the things I’m addressing in the sixth chapter. May I have your permission to take a leaf from some of the insights you shared. You are a blessing already. Grace upon grace.
CarlaGasser says
Thank you for your kind words! If you can email me at carla@carlagasser.com we can discuss further what you would like to share in your book. Blessings!
Marcus says
Timely teaching. Thank you!
CarlaGasser says
So thankful it encouraged you, Marcus!