Heather faces many challenges, including living with a debilitating chronic illness and the effects of breaking her coccyx after a fall. This means that she cannot work and now has to depend on Universal Credit.
She has found encouragement from this Old Testament verse: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14). She realised, “I had to let God into this and not do [things] on my own.” Heather sees “God’s presence in little wins”, such as moving through the benefits system with surprising ease. But some days she feels discouraged, and so she has had the verse tattooed on her ankle. “I always see it and remember what God has done in that day,” she says.
Moses spoke these words to the Israelites when they were escaping from Egypt. As the enemy chariots pursued, they cried out in fear, “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (v. 12). But Moses called them to “stand firm” and reassured them that they would see the Lord deliver them (v. 13). They only needed to “be still” (v. 14).
Whatever we face, we too can trust that the Lord fights on our behalf. We believe that we can be still as we put our trust in Him.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
How might these ancient words from Exodus apply to you today? How can you exercise trust in God when you face challenges?
Loving God, thank You that You can provide help for me in ways that I might never imagine. You are a good and faithful God.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
After Pharaoh set the Jews free from slavery (Ex. 12:28-33), he immediately had a change of heart and summoned his elite army to recapture them (14:5-9). Although God had overwhelmingly demonstrated His great power through the 10 plagues (Ex. 7–11), the Jews chose not to trust in Him. Terrified, they accused Moses of deceiving them and leading them into the wilderness to die (14:11-12 ). But Moses encouraged them not to be afraid and to be still and trust the Lord (vv. 13-14). God was faithful and saved them from Pharaoh’s army (vv. 21-23), and He continued to provide for them during their 40 years in the wilderness.
K. T. Sim
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