I’m sure you’ve been in a situation at some point in your life when you’ve been told to do one thing, and then the next minute you’ve been told to do the complete opposite. In that moment, we can be frustrated as to our next step. We can end up not knowing who or what to believe. We feel distrustful of what we have been previously told to do and subsequently told to do.
This can happen in our faith journey too.
When life throws us conflicting messages—when we’re told to wait but feel pressured to act, or when we want to trust God but fear is screaming louder—it’s hard to know what to do. In times like this, we’re desperate for clarity. We long to be confident that we’re hearing God correctly. We want to know that we’re not failing in our faith. We also yearn to be assured that He is still with us.
Moses and the Israelites were in one of those situations. It seemed like confusion. In it, we find wisdom for our own situations. When our hearts cry out, “What am I supposed to do now?” We find the answer to stand still and move forward in trust.
Moses told the people to stand firm when faced with the approaching Egyptian army on one side and the uncrossable Red Sea on the other side. He said
“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” (Exodus 14:13-14).
Moses has complete faith in God. We often repeat Moses’ words when we or others in difficult situations—to stand firm or be still.
In contrast, the Israelites did not have complete trust in God. Yet, before we point the finger at their lack of faith, we have to admit that our faith can fluctuate. Sometimes we can be like Moses. Sometimes we can be like the people. Usually we’re somewhere in between. No matter where we are and how our faith strengthens or weakens, God’s faithfulness never changes.
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease (Lamentations 3:22 NLT).
But, there’s something else we learn from the Israelites sticky situation and floundering faith that helps us to stand strong.
We see it in God’s instruction to Moses. It seems to contradict what Moses had told the people to do.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on (Exodus 14:15).
Moses told the people to stand firm. God told them to get moving.
Perhaps, though, the two instructions do not contradict each other. They are an invitation for us to do both.
There are three steps we can take when we’re not sure what to do next. We will look at Step One and Step Two in this post. Step Three will be available next week.
Step One: Stand firm
Stand firm—this is an invitation for us to keep our eyes on God. We are to expect God to deliver us from our fears. We are to expect his help now, not some time in the future, but in this life, in the situation we face today.
Be determined to stand firm in your trust in God today with whatever you are facing.
Step Two: Be Still
Be still—this is an invitation to stay calm and be at peace.
The word in Hebrew means to be silent
When God said “Why are you crying out to me?” His words can seem harsh. We interpret them as if we were saying them to someone else, when we know we can’t help them. But, again, God is inviting us to trust him.
If you have been crying out to God recently, today could be the day to be silent. Be calm and trust that he has “got this.”
Today, let’s pray about taking Step One and Step Two. Use the prayer below to help you.
Pray
I am quite encouraged of being reminded firm and still in circumstances I go through. You ‘ve been used of the LORD and be blessed 🙏