Be Still (Day 3)
“He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands” series
I love images like the one above. A still lake in the early morning reflecting the majesty of the mountain that towers over it. I think it’s the mountain that truly captivates me. A foreboding, immovable giant watching over this serene, tranquil landscape. It gives me this sense of security — a refuge that I can retreat to when the world around me falls apart.
Obviously, there’s a clear metaphor here as to who God is and how He watches over us — and is ultimately our refuge in time of need.
Yet, even though we know this about God, we take Him for granted. The minute the world around us falls apart, we don’t retreat to God — taking refuge in His glory. Often times, we act on our own accord; trying to achieve our own victory. When this COVID-19 mess started and I lost my job, I ran ahead with my own plan — instead of being patient and looking to God to understand what His plan was in this situation.
Days after my employer informed me I was going to be furloughed for 90 days, I applied to literally any job that was available for my experience level. I did this out of panic and worry; letting myself be consumed by fear of what this loss of income meant for our family. It was a situation I had never been in before, and certainly not a situation I was at all prepared to navigate through.
Psalm 46:6 says:
“The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!”
Sounds kind of familiar, right? The kingdom of my pride was crumbling around me. My glamorous tech job was gone. Expensive luxuries disappeared as our budget was pared down to the bare necessities, and I was overcome with worry that we were going to lose everything. I needed a wake up call, and God was not subtle in delivering the message.
There’s No Reason To Fear When God Has Already Won
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
It’s easy to read this and think, “I just need to ‘Let Go & Let God.’” And, yes, that is a true statement.
However, go back and read all of Psalm 46; pay attention to the context surrounding verse 10. It’s not just a declaration for us to trust Him. It’s a battle cry! A declaration of victory over the chaos in this world. For me, it was God reminding me of who He is; reminding me of His power. God says, “Look! Why are you afraid? Am I not All Mighty God? I WILL be honored by every nation. My glory permeates throughout all of creation! Take refuge in me because I have already won the battle!”
Even in the midst of a global pandemic, God does not want us to live in fear of the chaos gripping our world. He wants us to look to Him, to remember we serve the God who has authority over everything. He wants us to seek refuge in His glory.
“But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” 2 Chronicles 20:17
What’s even better is that we don’t even need to engage in the fight! He wants us to let Him fight for us. I love how the verse says, “…watch the Lord’s victory.” God’s victory is a sure thing — there’s nothing we can do to change the outcome. Our only job is to take our positions, stand still, and to not be afraid — our courage comes from knowing that He is with us, and that he will win!
It’s easy, as humans, to be discouraged. It’s easy to lose hope, or chase after our own desires out of fear that we’ve been abandoned. The enemy wants us to feel like we have no other options. And just when you’re ready to give in, look down in the reflection of the water. Be filled with hope when you see that mountain towering behind you. God wants us to trust that He will see us through the panic. He wants us to take refuge in his Love.
“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.” Psalm 73:26
If we attempt to forge our own path, we’ll only lose our strength and our hope. However, if we let God fight for us, our strength will be renewed. We will be encouraged and filled with hope as we watch our Lord’s victory over the chaos.
My Prayer Today:
All Mighty God, your victory is the only hope we have, and we are full of hope because we know you’ve already won! Give us the strength to trust in you, Father. Surround us in your Love so that we are not overcome by the chaos surrounding this COVID-19 situation. Lord, we ask that the Holy Spirit would encourage us and protect us from the fear that is griping our society. Fight for us because we are weak, and let us honor you in your victory!
