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Be Still... Again



Lately I have been reading through Exodus-probably not the typical Christmas read (Merry Christmas, here's a story about a plague of gnats!), but as usual, God has a way of showing me what I need to hear.

While reading about Moses and God's deliverance of the Israelites, it's interesting to think about Pharaoh continuously hardening his heart to God's people.  Chapter by chapter, terrible things are happening in Egypt.  Blood, insects, diseases, and death are continuously put in front of Pharaoh's face, yet he still chooses not to listen.  You would think that if God is so clearly and continuously telling him something, it might be beneficial to actually listen.

Let's look at some other poor cycles in the Bible: like the entire era of Judges: Israel turns away from God>>Israel is punished>>Israel cries out to God>>God delivers (as always)>>Israel forgets and turns away again>>repeat for way too many cycles.

If you want an example from the New Testament, let's look at Matthew 26 and the garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus asks his disciples to pray with Him; He knows what His future is and is asking for prayer.  He repeatedly comes back to find His disciples sleeping and has to wake them up.  Wouldn't you think they might clue in to the fact that he is trying to tell them something?

When reading all these examples, it kind of seems like these people should start listening and get with the program.

If that's the case, why do I feel like God is constantly having to teach me the same things?   The phrase "Be still" is one of the most consistent phrases God reminds me of, time after time.

Will he like me? Am I "too much"? Not enough? Can't God just show me the future now?

 Be still.

 Do I have what it takes to do that task? Get that job? Complete that goal?

 Be still.

 Will this get easier?  Will the pain go away?  Will I find peace?  Is joy still possible through it all?

 Be still.
Within every single season of my life, I am able to look back and clearly see how He has beautifully pieced together every part of my life in a way that only He could think of.  He has brought bigger and better blessings in my life than I could imagine.  If I had it "my way", my life would be a disaster.  But He has come through time after time, despite constant panicking, begging, worrying, and disbelief of His capabilities, grace, and love.

As I was doing my quiet time tonight, while letting that same old anxiety creep back in, this verse popped up in my read through Exodus.

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14)

Oh.

Be still.

 Just like Pharaoh, the Israelites, the disciples, and so many others, God is having to repeatedly tell me the same thing.  He has His plan, and we are so so blessed by it.

That chapter in Exodus goes on to talk about God splitting the red sea to deliver His people.  God did all the hard part and all the fighting.  All the Israelites had to do was keep moving down the path God laid out for them  He used Moses in big ways, because Moses was willing (hesitant at times, but still willing) to follow God's path while God delivered.

Instead of focusing on those same anxieties and worries that continue to pop up, it's time to focus on the big ways God is wanting to use you and me to further His Kingdom.  He will fight and guide the path; all we have to do is willingly follow where He leads.

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