STAND FIRM and BE STILL: GOD’S ANSWER IN THE MIDST OF OUR CHAOS

I know God is calling me to stand firm, be still, and rely on His strength in the midst of my chaos. But it seems so counterintuitive when…

• My heart is heavy.
• My mind is troubled.
• And my soul is weary.

I need to be reminded (and maybe you do too) to…

• To let go.
• To give it completely to Him.
• To just be still.

If you are struggling in any way today, know I am right there with you.

GOD TELLS THE ISRAELITES TO STAND FIRM AND BE STILL

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when the Israelites are fleeing Egypt and are about to cross the Red Sea. Do you remember that story?

God had told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that he let his people go. Pharaoh refuses, so God sends plagues. Pharaoh continues to enslave the Israelites until the last plague takes the life of his son. He finally relents, so the Israelites pack all their belongings and begin to run.   But almost immediately after releasing the people, Pharaoh has second thoughts and sends his chariots and armies to recapture them.

It is a tense situation for the people when they reach the Red Sea, knowing that Pharaoh and his men are closing in quickly. They look to Moses for help, wondering how God is going to rescue them now. And here is what Moses says:

EXODUS 14:13-14

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)

WHY IT IS DIFFICULT TO STAND FIRM AND BE STILL

The Egyptian arming is coming fast and furious on horses with weapons drawn and the Red Sea is just ahead, raging and impassable…I think the last thing I would think of doing would be standing still!  These people risked everything for their freedom. And now Moses was asking them to stop and be still?

I would be preparing to fight, run, or swim.  Anything but stand still.

I think reading other translations of this verse only enlarge our understanding:

• The King James Version reads, “hold your peace.”
• The New Living Translation says, “just stay calm.”
• The English Standard Version reads, “be silent.”
• And The Message uses the strongest language, “keep your mouths shut.”

DEFINITION OF STANDING STILL

Here is how the dictionary defines the word still:

Motionless, unmoving, deep silence and calm, subdued, free from disturbance or commotion.

Not exactly the words one would use for battle, right?

Maybe I would be so scared that I would be rendered motionless, but quiet? I think it would be hard to stifle the screams that would naturally rise out of my mouth.

Yet, that is exactly what Moses told the Israelites to do:

STAND FIRM AND BE STILL.

And I think God speaks to us in same way today.

HOW GOD TEACHES US TO STAND FIRM AND BE STILL

Are you facing a battle right now?

Do you feel like the armies are closing in and there is raging sea up ahead?

I feel like I have been in some battles of my own the last few months.  And my natural tendency is to fight…especially when those battles involve people I love and want to defend. I also want to run…when things get too difficult. Standing still is not something that comes naturally to me. Neither does being quiet. Fight or flight is often my involuntary response to crisis.

But God keeps whispering in my ear:

“Be still.”

“Stand firm.”

“Hold your peace.”

“I’ve got this one.”

“Trust me.”

“Shhhhh…be quiet.”

Sometimes the Lord does tell us to fight like he did with David and Goliath or with Joshua and the Battle of Jericho.  He calls us to action.  But other times, like with the Israelites fleeing Egypt, he tells us to be still.  He asks us to trust Him to fight our battles and to watch and wait for victory in His way and in His timing.

I don’t know what enemies you may be facing today on the journey, nor do I know if God is asking you to fight or stand still.  Maybe He is just asking you to slow down so that you can hear His voice.  Either way, I want you to be encouraged by how the story ends for the Israelites. God parts the Red Sea and enables them to escape the Egyptians by walking through on dry land.  Truly amazing!  He delivers them completely and all they had to do was stand firm and be still just like He said.

Sometimes the battle is the Lord’s and His call to us is to BE STILL.

“Be still, and know that I am God…”

Psalm 46:10

STAND FIRM SONG LYRICS

The lyrics of a song by Bebe Winans express the struggle so beautifully:

STAND

What do you do
when you’ve done all you can
And it seems like it’s never enough?
And what do you say
when your friends turn away,
you’re all alone?
Tell me, what do you give
When you’ve given your all,
and seems like
you can’t make it through?

Stand and be sure
Be not entangled in that bondage again
You just stand, and be sure.
God has a purpose.
Yes, God has a plan.

Tell me what do you do
when you’ve done all you can
And it seems like you can’t make it through
Child you just stand
You just stand
Stand
Don’t you give up
Through the storm , through the rain
Through the hurt , through the pain

[Chorus]
Well, you just stand
When there’s nothing left to do
You just stand
Watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you’ve done all you can
You just stand

Don’t you bow, don’t bend
Don’t give up, don’t give in
Hold on,  just be strong
God will step in and it won’t be long

After you’ve done all you can
After you’ve gone through the hurt
After you’ve gone through the pain
After you’ve gone through the storm
After you’ve gone through the rain
Prayed and cried,you’ve prayed and cried
Prayed and cried, prayed and cried
After you’ve done all you can, you just stand.

LET’S LEARN TO STAND FIRM AND BE STILL TOGETHER

When we are in the midst of chaos, we need each other more than ever! I want you to know that there is a place for you here AT THE CROSSROADS!

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If this post spoke to you in any way, would you mind leaving a comment, sharing it on social media, or even letting a friend know? It would be encouraging to hear from others who need to be reminded that sometimes God’s simple answer is: STAND FIRM and BE STILL.