Wait on the Lord – He will renew your strength.
When Stillness Seems Senseless
When you want to see action, the last logical thing to do would be to relax, to be still, to pause; but what if that is the most powerful action you can take?
In the call of Psalm 46:10 to “be still and know that I am God,”:
"Be Still"
The phrase to be still is rāp̄â, which is a Hebrew word meaning to cease, or to relax.
"Know that I Am God"
The next command is “to know”, yāḏa, which means: to know, to have revelation, instruction, or understanding. This yāḏa is met with a posture of an open heart, open ears, and an eager readiness to let God be God.
He is able to do far more than we can even ask or imagine, and often when He wants to do a work with us or in our lives, that work must begin within us to be prepared and made ready. This focus and alertness to what He will say sets the stage for what He desires to do next.
When Anxiety Enters the Chat
Elijah was a prophet of the Lord; he had witnessed for himself remarkable miracles and mind-bending examples of God’s power, but Elijah was still human, susceptible to anxiety. When the news came that Queen Jezebel would have his head, he fled in absolute fear, but he also cried out to God for comfort and command. In 1 Kings 19, we are told that Elijah waited in stillness:
“The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
Hurricane-force winds emerged, an earthquake ensued, and a fire blazed, yet God’s voice was yet to be heard. Despite the prolonged silence, Elijah waited upon the Lord ever still. At last, in 1 Kings 19:12, the word of the Lord, “came a gentle whisper.” Through that soft instruction came the play-by-play of what Elijah was to do next. Instead of relying on his own understanding or reacting to what-ifs, he sought the Lord even when he was shaken to his fleshly core.
In the same way, you may be met by a problem today, a complication, or circumstances that appear insurmountably difficult, but do not lose heart. Be still before the Lord and wait. It may not come instantly, and it may come in such a way that you do not expect, but hold firm and wait upon the Lord. He may move you to act in a certain manner, to step aside so that He can do a specific work, or He may offer you wisdom for the path ahead, but know that He can be trusted. Rest, relax, and cease striving as you allow God to take the lead, for He knows the way forward.
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