Worried? Confused? Maybe the first solution is simply to be still
By Dean Collins
Sometimes when you look up and see the trouble ahead of you or the problems chasing you, it’s easy to wonder why you should bother to keep trying to do the thing you know God gave you to do. Whether your mission is raising your children, planting a church, leading a nonprofit, or simply trying to be a faithful Christian, there will be moments where you wonder, given the obstacles you are facing, whether the work is worth it.
They began to doubt
I don’t think any of the Israelites were really happy living in the daily oppression of Pharaoh’s rule. And you would think that when God gave them tangible evidence that he was with them, they might have trusted him to handle what was ahead. They had seen the favor of the Egyptians handing them their possessions on the way out the door. They knew God was with them in the fire and the cloud he provided. But when they saw the Egyptians chasing after them, they began to doubt.
I’m glad God can see through our words and recognize our fears and that he graciously speaks to them. Here is the message spoken by Moses in a moment when the people were panicking:
“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
I doubt, too!
Easier said than done. I like these bold and comforting words but I will admit that sometimes I have to say them to myself and pray them again and again in order to trust they are true. Oh, I have a lifetime full of evidence that God is faithful. And I’ve read about and seen his mighty hand in action. But when the pressure of potential disaster or a pursuing enemy is coming, I still must remind myself to fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord.
It is comforting to know that God will fight for us. I think our bigger problem is keeping silent while God does his work. Sometimes it’s hard to simply stop talking and let God do what God does.
God doesn’t mind us expressing our fears and thoughts. There is ample evidence in Scripture, especially in the Psalms, that we can honestly unload all of our questions and feelings before God. I think the bigger problem is that when we unload all these words on each other, the result may be that we perpetuate our faulty thinking and potentially our lack of faith. Maybe some aspect of how the Shakers worship might be helpful. After hearing a sermon the church sits silent with each other. Could it be that in silence we might allow God to reinforce what we have read or heard from Scripture?
I need to stop
More and more as I read Scripture I find myself needing just to stop, quit researching and writing, and let the Lord’s message from Scripture sink in to my mind and heart. This word in Exodus is one worthy of considering: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
In silence we rest.
In silence God is present and active.
In silence battles are often won.
In silence we find peace.
In silence we discover that there is much more to God.
In silence we understand our limitations.
In silence we are drawn to repentance.
In silence God wraps his loving arms around us.
Whatever you are facing today, know that God is active and will fight for you. Take a breath, say a prayer, and let his silent yet active presence change this moment. Maybe this is what Jesus was saying to us in John’s Gospel: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Silence very well might be golden.
Your time with God’s Word
Exodus 14:10-25, 30-31 ESV
To receive daily posts delivered directly to your inbox, complete the form at the bottom of our home page.
To download a printable version of today’s post, click here.
