By Marsha S. Francis
“… And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10: 13 NIV)
Exercise is a popular outdoor activity that many people engage in, and an activity that I particularly enjoy. One morning, while doing my customary morning exercise in a picturesque valley locale, I turned to proceed down a hill and came face to face with a massive, ferocious looking dog. The dog started barking and charging towards me. I was terrified! My first instinct was to run; however, I knew I shouldn’t, so I took a quick look around to see if there was anything I could use to defend myself.
“Stand still! Don’t be afraid!” the dog’s owner shouted as he emerged from the side of the home. He then summoned the dog who’d obviously been taught to follow his commands, and the animal returned home.
In the Bible, there are many accounts of God assisting and delivering His people. One such account occurred during Elisha’s ministry, when the King of Syria dispatched his forces to capture the prophet. Elisha, because of his relationship with, and faith in God, was unruffled at the sight of the King’s army surrounding the city; however, his servant was terrified at the sight of the armed soldiers. Like the dog’s owner, Elisha called out to his petrified servant, “Fear not; for they who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6: 16). Elisha then prayed and asked God to open the servant’s eyes, at which point the servant was able to see God’s angels standing between the armed men and Elisha. Needless to say, the King’s plans were foiled.
Today you may be experiencing unprecedented hardships on your Christian journey – loss, pain, disease, disaster – that fill you with doubt and fear. However, in spite of how bleak, disheartening, or inescapable the situation appears, it is crucial that you rely completely on God; God who is all-seeing and all-knowing, and standing ready to deliver you. But you must ‘stand still’ to sense His presence and claim His promise of deliverance. In so doing your faith will be strengthened, and your instinct will no longer be to panic and flee when adversity appears.
It’s not easy to remain calm in the face of adversity; developing such an attitude requires:
- A surrender of self – you must acknowledge the difficulty you are facing and recognize that the only thing you can do is seek God’s guidance.
- Prayer – you must ask God to provide you with the strength to persevere.
- Deepening your relationship with God – you must spend time reflecting on God’s word; it will increase your faith and provide you with the answers you need.
When these three fundamental principles are followed, you can confidently declare, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrews 13:6 NIV)
Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to stand still and not be afraid. Help me to develop complete trust in You and enable my faith to grow. Amen.
