The Tension.
Be still.
The instruction from the Lord that seems to be the hardest to obey.
We see it over and over again in Scripture that it is the Lord who fights for His people, yet we continuously wrestle if we are doing enough and striving to be good enough for Him, for ourselves, and for those around us.
We, as humans, can easily operate in a spirit of “doing” rather than truly “being”; when we can rest in the “being,” then the “doing” comes naturally; it comes through the power of the Holy Spirit and is not full of striving, proving, performing, etc. This heart posture is one that comes through prayer; prayer bathed in humility, surrender, awareness, intentionality, discipline, and the list can continue. Essentially, it requires confession and repentance - day by day and moment by moment; surrendering selfish ambitions and our will, and instead submitting to the Father’s will (which includes His timeline). If we are honest, His timeline can sometimes feel like our biggest enemy.
The process that takes place in the waiting is one of the key ingredients which helps us to learn how to "be" rather than finding our identity in the "doing." When it is not God's timing or plan, we cannot make it or force it to be; we do not have that kind of power over God.
Learning to breathe and be still before the Father is one of the most beautiful places we could ever sit or be. This is where He is able to reveal Himself to us, remind us who He is, teach us His character, and help us discover what our true identity in Christ is.
As followers of Christ, adopted children of God through the blood of Christ, we can never be more loved or less loved than we already are. No matter what we do, say, feel, believe, etc. A fact is a fact, whether you believe it our not. It is by grace through faith that we have been saved, not by our own works or doing so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
It is so easy to try to measure success in our own eyes or the world’s standards; however, reality is, each and every day we must simply ask ourselves, “Was I faithful with what God has entrusted to me and was I obedient to what He asked me to do today?” Who are we to dictate the worth or importance of the these things God asks us to do. One simple conversation with a stranger could be the very thing God used to open their eyes to His truth or simply encourage them to keep going, despite their desire to end it all. We may never know what God did through our simple step of obedience, but we do know that what He asked us to do has purpose. For He is a God of purpose.
I recently heard a story from a friend. She received a phone call from a childhood friend's husband. During the conversation, the husband told my friend, "You know, B never went to church or had any interest in Christ when she was growing up. However, now, she loves the Lord and serves in our church regularly, hoping to just make a difference in the lives of those around her for the sake of God's glory. This may be random, but she attributes this love for the Lord to you and your family. She got more out of being loved by your family and exposed to the Truth of the Gospel than you ever knew. So thank you for being apart of her story."
I share this for the sole purpose of the reality that when we love God and rest in our identity in Him and then let that love and confidence overflow to those around you, God makes impacts, works miracles, and changes lives.
Next time you are wrestling, thinking that you prioritizing your relationship with the Lord and spending time with Him is not important or valuable, remember that He only asks us to just be. As we seek Him first, resting in Him and His sovereignty, our actions will overflow, naturally, and have more of a Kingdom impact than we know.
Stop striving for approval and exhausting yourself to be enough. Rest in God's grace and the comfort of His arms, clinging to the truth that Christ finished the work on your behalf - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). It is finished; it is done - "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). We are simply called to trust and obey.
Be still [mentally, especially] and simply know that He alone is God and all will be well.
He is for you.
Soli Deo gloria.