Standing Still: Discerning God’s Timing in Our Battles
2 Chronicles 20:17
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
I have often wondered how to discern when it’s time to engage, or when it’s time to stand still. Let’s just face it, even when we have no other option but to stand still, we still find ourselves scratching around for a quick do-it-yourself fix! Part of me wants to engage my God-given brain to think through my problems and offer solutions, and another part of me says to simply trust the Lord. Where is the balance? I admit that this is a challenge I face almost daily in my own personal life.
Yet, in light of our text, there is some light shed on the subject. When we’re faced with these two choices, more important than anything else is to find the mind of God on the matter! If we don’t know, ask! When we truly give Him a chance, He always gives us a word right on time.
Often, our human nature isn’t patient enough to wait upon the Lord. We’re afraid we’ll miss our opportunity to make it work if we wait too long, so we pretend like we’re giving God time to work, and yet when He doesn’t do it quick enough for our hasty spirits, often we take matters into our own hands. We must learn that when God says to “Stand still”, it is because it is our uneasy, hasty, anxious spirits He wishes to subdue and tame to be controlled and led by His Spirit.
God’s timing is impeccable. Even when we think He’s too late, He’s right on time! At times, He waits years before answering our prayers, and yet at other times He answers immediately. Regardless of when He answers, the truth is that He does, and for that we should be grateful.
Always remember that when we faithfully and willingly wait for Him, He is working everything for our good. How often do our children try to rush their birthday presents, for example? Yet, in the great wisdom of we the parents, we make them patiently await their birthday so as to make the moment more memorable and special. So it is with our Heavenly Father! He is simply awaiting the day in which the presentation of His gift is most memorable, special, and meaningful to us!
Keep waiting and trusting, and one day the Lord will reward your patience.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
I have often wondered how to discern when it’s time to engage, or when it’s time to stand still. Let’s just face it, even when we have no other option but to stand still, we still find ourselves scratching around for a quick do-it-yourself fix! Part of me wants to engage my God-given brain to think through my problems and offer solutions, and another part of me says to simply trust the Lord. Where is the balance? I admit that this is a challenge I face almost daily in my own personal life.
Yet, in light of our text, there is some light shed on the subject. When we’re faced with these two choices, more important than anything else is to find the mind of God on the matter! If we don’t know, ask! When we truly give Him a chance, He always gives us a word right on time.
Often, our human nature isn’t patient enough to wait upon the Lord. We’re afraid we’ll miss our opportunity to make it work if we wait too long, so we pretend like we’re giving God time to work, and yet when He doesn’t do it quick enough for our hasty spirits, often we take matters into our own hands. We must learn that when God says to “Stand still”, it is because it is our uneasy, hasty, anxious spirits He wishes to subdue and tame to be controlled and led by His Spirit.
God’s timing is impeccable. Even when we think He’s too late, He’s right on time! At times, He waits years before answering our prayers, and yet at other times He answers immediately. Regardless of when He answers, the truth is that He does, and for that we should be grateful.
Always remember that when we faithfully and willingly wait for Him, He is working everything for our good. How often do our children try to rush their birthday presents, for example? Yet, in the great wisdom of we the parents, we make them patiently await their birthday so as to make the moment more memorable and special. So it is with our Heavenly Father! He is simply awaiting the day in which the presentation of His gift is most memorable, special, and meaningful to us!
Keep waiting and trusting, and one day the Lord will reward your patience.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill