How to Be Still: When God Says Wait
Exodus 14:14. Be Still.
To me, this is one of the most comforting passages in the Bible. It teaches us that we don’t have to keep putting pressure on ourselves to continually fight to be better, to do more. We don’t have to hold on to guilt, pain, stress. We can give it all to Him.
But it’s also one the passages I struggle with the most.
In the most difficult times in my life, when chaos is swirling around me like a gale of wind ready to push me over, it doesn’t seem right to “be still.” And when the road ahead of me is dark, and I can only see what’s immediately in front of me, my instinct is to retreat.
Because how can I trust that what’s ahead of me is safe when I can’t see it?
It’s been a couple of weeks now since I quit my job. Plenty of time to get my head on straight, pray to God and make a plan for myself. When I started this, I figured that two weeks would be more than enough time to figure my life out. I’ve done what I’m supposed to do: I’ve prayed, read scripture, added several Bible apps to my phone. Created lovely scripture pictures to print off and put around the house.
I mean, what else can I do? I asked God this same question. And His response? “You have everything you need.
I hear God telling me this constantly now. [image error]
Me: Should I buy this?
God: You have everything you need
Me: Maybe if I find more Bible journaling ideas on Pinterest?
God: You have everything you need.
Me: What do I do with my life, God???
God: Everything you need.
Me: But, God. The praying, and the reading the Bible, and I still don’t know what to do and…
God: Everything.
That’s when the passage from Exodus popped into my head. “Be still.” God is telling me to wait for Him- that He has equipped me with everything I need. He wants me (and all of us) to be satisfied with knowing only what’s immediately ahead of us, because we trust Him enough to follow His lead even when the road is dark. He wants us to stand firm through the storm, because He will get us through.
I’m not good at being still.
I’m good at worrying. I’m good at thinking about thinking. I’m really good at making lists of things to do to make my life better. (Even if it means adding something I’ve already done and crossing it off so that I feel like I’m moving forward.)
And, if I’m being completely honest, it’s not all that rewarding to make a list with one item: “Be still.” And it’s even less rewarding because I can’t cross it off.
But God knows I love lists, and He knows that this isn’t easy for me, so as I compromise, He’s equipped me with some things to do while I wait. So, I’ve made a different kind of list.
When God says, Be Still: Things to do in the meantime:
Read Genesis 37: Joseph went through struggles far greater than mine to get to where God wanted him to be. God gives us this story to remind us that He is constantly working within us, even when (especially when) He feels far away. Every time it seemed like Joseph’s time was coming, he was thrown another curve ball. But everything he did while waiting helped him to fulfill his destiny- to become king.
Write down my thoughts, feelings, and observations after I pray: (I’m kinda doing that right now, so can I cross that off my list for today?) Sometimes I have to marinate on things for a while before I can really grasp the full meaning. When I write down what I’m thinking and read it later, sometimes I see it from a different perspective. Plus, I have memory as small as a mustard seed, so writing things down helps me remember it.
Read: I love to read! In fact, I took my desk out of my office and turned it into a book room. I’ve since filled it with just about every book anyone has recommended to me over the last couple of years. Now would be a great time to read some of those recommendations. First on my list: Love Does by Bob Goff.
Pray for other people: God’s got me. I don’t have to keep asking for God to answer my prayers, to give me guidance, because I know it’s time to lay low. While I wait, I have plenty of time to pray for my friends, family, the government, the homeless, the abused, the persecuted, the unsaved.
Listen to music: At home. In my car. By myself. With my family. Crank it up. Music is good for the soul!
What about you? Do you struggle when God tells you to “Be Still” What do you do during periods of waiting? And how did it work out for you in the long run.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to comment below!
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