Hold Still

Read

Exodus 14:13-14 “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’”

Think

Caleb had a splinter. A big one, right in the bottom of his foot. He had run across the old wooden deck with no shoes on. Ouch!

His dad got out the tweezers. But every time Dad got close, Caleb wiggled. He kicked. He squirmed. He pulled his foot away.

“Buddy,” Dad said, “I can get it out. But you have to hold still. Let me take care of it.”

Caleb took a big breath. He held his foot still. And in two seconds, the splinter was out.

God's people were squirming too. Not because of a splinter, but because of a whole army. And Moses told them almost exactly what Caleb's dad said.

The people were terrified. An army was behind them, and the sea was in front of them. They were yelling and panicking and blaming Moses.

Then Moses said something surprising. “Do not be afraid. Stand firm.” Stand firm means don't run away and don't fall apart. Stay right where you are.

Then came the best part: “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Think about that. The people did not have to fight the army. They didn't need swords or a plan. God was going to take care of it. Their job was to calm down and trust him.

Being still does not mean doing nothing forever. It means you stop panicking. You stop trying to fix everything by yourself. You let God do what only God can do.

Sometimes when we are worried, we wiggle like Caleb. We lie awake at night thinking about it. We try to control everything. We get grumpy with the people around us.

But God is saying, “I've got this. Hold still. Let me take care of it.”

You don't have to be the strongest. You don't have to have all the answers. God is fighting for you. You can be still.

Apply

Be still and breathe – When you feel worried today, sit still and take three slow breaths. With each breath, say in your head, “God is fighting for me.”_‍

Pray

God, thank you for fighting for me. When I feel worried, help me stop and be still. I trust you to take care of what I can't. In Jesus' name. Amen.