BE STILL AND WAIT by -Sonia McDonald
“Be still and wait” is a consistent theme throughout the bible and is linked to the themes of patience and endurance. These qualities, fruit of the Spirit, are gifts from The Eternal that we must put to work and practice. They go hand in hand with faith.
Jesus used the analogy of “”Be still and wait“, to the Israelite’s as they stood entrapped between Pharaohs army, the Red Sea and a mountain range.
Exodus 14: 13-15 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not! Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD which He will work for you today, for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again! The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall be still.”
In life, we are often faced with circumstances that seem overwhelming, like the Israelite’s, where we feel hemmed in from all directions. It is in these trying times we need to focus on God’s promises to “”Be still and wait” for He will come to our rescue and show us a way out, just as He did with the Israelite’s. Yes, they had to move forward, but He fought the battle for them.
It is important that we have the faith to believe what He has said, He will do. This saying, “Be still and wait” is very calming, helping to build within us patience and long suffering in the knowledge that in God’s perfect timing, He will come to the rescue and fight our battles for us.
The same principle is applied many times throughout the scriptures. One example is when Jehoshaphat had a great army that had come against Judah, so he called for a fast throughout Judah. All Judah went to seek the Lord. Jehosophat inquired and prayed to the Lord asking for His help. God answered through a Levite called Jahaziel.
2 Chronicles 15-17, “Listen, all Judah, and you people of Jerusalem, and King Jehosophat! Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold they come up by the cliff of Ziz. And you shall find them at the end of the valley before the wilderness of Jeruel. You shall not need to fight in this battle. Set yourselves and stand, (be still and wait) and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them for the LORD will be with you.”
After praising and giving thanks to The Eternal, they arose the next morning, whereupon Jehosophat said to the people, “Hear me, O Judah, and you people of Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and so you shall be established. Believe His prophets and so you shall prosper.”
Jehosaphat then appointed singers to the LORD and praisers to exalt the beauty of holiness. They went out before the army singing, “Praise the LORD, for His steadfast love endures forever.” (vs 21)
God did the fighting, causing the enemy to annihilate one another!
2 Cor 20:29 , “And a terror from God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel”
Some good lessons for us to learn and emulate from the above example when we are facing difficulties:
- Jehosaphat and the people fasted and prayed to the Eternal asking for His help.
- They had faith and courage to believe what He said, He would do.
- They had to step forward to the battlefield in faith to meet their enemy; they had to be still and wait patiently for the Eternal.
- They sang praises and gave glory to the Lord during the journey to the battle, going in confidence, knowing He was with them throughout.
- After attaining success through God’s graceful and miraculous intervention, they offered much praise and thanksgiving with great joy and playing of musical instruments.
Other biblical verses indicate the importance of, ‘being still and waiting’, and having faith in The Eternal:
- Isaiah 64:4 “No eye has seen a God besides You, Who acts for those who wait for Him”.
- Isaiah 30:15 “For thus said the Lord God, The Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength”
- Micah 7:7: “But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”
This small phrase can have a big impact on the lives of many if internalized, and can be the source of much hope, even in the darkest of places and times.
I have a friend who when she was young made some bad choices which decades later caught up with her. She ended up spending some time in jail for her crime. She was devastated of course that her past had caught up with her, as she had led a good life after the event. I used to write her letters on occasions to encourage her to hang in there in that harsh environment in which she found herself. The main encouragement was from the Bible, the verse, “Be still and wait“. This really had a positive impact on her and she put up the signs around the common areas and in her cell. Apparently, it gave many hope in a hopeless environment. When she was released sometime later, some of the women wrote to her saying they were using that principle to get them by. The Word of God is very powerful!
Hebrews 4:12- “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of both soul and spirit, and of both the joints and the marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
All these little examples may help us get through trials and tribulations that could lie ahead of us as we edge toward the end of this age, while awaiting the wonderful Millennial reign of Christ and the restoration of all things. We must have faith that the Eternal is Good, Faithful to His Word and He loves us, our job is to”Be still and wait“!
Yehovah is: loving, strong, all powerful, Almighty, faithful, kind, merciful, patient, long-suffering and He is our Father. He only wants what is best for us, so we can develop the Godly characteristics He desires for us, His children, to have. We must be still and wait for Him to deliver us out of our dilemmas and into His glorious Kingdom at His appointed time.
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Lee
EXCELLENT!! Thanks SOMUCH Sonia!! I found this VERY helpful as well as encouraging!!