What do you do when you have a problem that is just too big?
My first reaction is to do what I can to solve it. I want to plan my way around it or make it disappear. I feel better when I’m trying as hard as I can to take care of it.
But sometimes the challenge in front of us is way too big for us.
The Israelites faced the impossible when they came up against the Red Sea with the Egyptians in hot pursuit behind them. They had the sea before them, and enemies with weapons and horses behind them. It was more than an obstacle. It was a sure recipe for 2,000,000 people to have panic attacks. Yet Moses told them not to be afraid.
God tells us the same things:
Do not be afraid.
Friend, no matter what kind of Red Sea you’re facing today, God is big enough. Maybe your Red Sea is a doctor’s diagnosis, a struggling child, or a strained marriage. Maybe it’s loss through death or a divorce you never expected. The same God who told the Israelites not to be afraid is with you today. He goes before you and behind you.
Stand firm.
When that Red Sea stares you in the face, stand firm on what you know. Go back to your Bible. It contains the Word of God and the encouragement you need. Declare His truth. Choose to believe it. Remember God’s power, love, and mercy. Stand firm on his promises.
You will see deliverance.
God will carve out a way to cross that sea before you, but He’ll do it in His timing. He has the solution to your problem. God has the provision and the hope you need. He has the miracle you need. God will give you the strength, joy, and wisdom you need for each day.
Going back to our passage in Exodus, the next verse is downright astounding:
Be Still.
Be still? What?
When I have a problem, the last solution that comes to my mind is to “be still.” I’d rather work on it. I’d rather think about it. I’d rather make a plan to solve it.
Yet “Be still” is exactly what God told the Israelites to do.
Of course we’re responsible to obey God when He shows us steps to take through challenging times, but He calls us to a heart attitude of stillness and trust. Rather than relying on our own efforts, we can rest in God’s power. When problems are too big for us to solve, we can rely on Him. When needs are too big for us to meet, we can rest in Him.
So if you’re standing in front of a Red Sea Challenge today, remember God is big enough.
Don’t be afraid. He goes before you. Stand Firm. Hold on to hope for deliverance, and when your efforts fall short, be still before the Almighty. His power is enough.
Now it’s your turn. What are you trusting God for today? What comes to mind when you read the words, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still?”
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Thank-you for this sweet reminder that He is big enough to take care of anything that concerns me!
Praying now that He’ll show Himself BIG to you this week, Brooke. Thanks for reading today.
My favorite point? You will see. So reassuring that God has got everything in hand.
Hardest point – for me? Be still. Even knowing that God is in charge, I struggle to be peaceful and to trust quietly.
Betsy, I love how you’ve analyzed this truth. Thank you.
Oh, I think being still is the hardest for me too, Michele. Thank YOU for reading!
Yes, Betsy! I too am a doer, no standing still here. I’m a head down, plow through and get it done girl but yet, when I take a moment to let God speak to my soul, I always find a better path-His path through or around. Wrote on this too! Thanks for the encouragement for this doer’s soul! Blessings on your walk as you stand still and see God at work in your life!
Oh yes, we do find a a better path when we take time to be still before Him. Thanks for this thoughtful comment, Jill. Blessings on your week.
I’m with you, Betsy. I want to solve it, fix it, counsel it away.
He doesn’t work like that, does He …
Being still, and filled with gratitude in the process, allows us to stop our endless striving which is so useless anyway.
And our fears begin to leach away …
Ha! Counsel it away! I didn’t think of that one, but I try to do that too, Linda. Yes, I’m closing my laptop now for a big of that stillness and gratitude.
Betsy, I needed this today in a BIG way! I have wonderful testimonies of times in the past when God worked as I chose to be still, but somehow I easily forget when problems arise again. This is just the reminder I needed to stand on His promise today. He will fight for me! Thank you for the encouragement, and happy to be your neighbor today at Holly’s!
Standing on His promises along with you today, Kristine. You’ve got quite a bit going on in your life right now, don’t you! So grateful for your friendship and your example to me.
I can so relate to this, Betsy, because I definitely am a doer when it comes to problems: I like to learn more information, ask key people for advice and suggestions, etc. I feel better when I’m doing something to solve the problem. But sometimes it’s just too much for all my efforts. I guess I need to learn boundaries: what is God’s role here? What is my role? Sometimes there are specific things I’m called to do, but sometimes my efforts are just getting in the way. You’re right that being still is important because then I can better hear that calling from God — sometimes He is telling me just to let go. Thanks for writing about this today.
What a great way to put it, Jeannie. What is my role here? What is God’s role? That’s so helpful. Just this morning, I realized I was making a decision much more difficult than I needed to because I was “over-researching” it, rather than making the decision and letting go in trust. I already knew enough, no need to prolong the decision. (Over-researching is not a word, but it should be!)
My biggest “aha” today comes from God asking us to “be still”. I am a fixer and being still seems to go against everything I usually do when there is a problem. But God is the ultimate fixer so it makes perfect sense for us to remain still and let Him do what He does best. I think I would have made a good Israelite because of my lack of patience in certain areas, my grumbling when things don’t go my way and my desire for a quick solution. So today I am trusting God to show me that when I let go my worries to Him, He will follow through and take care of them. Loved your words today!
I’m a “fixer” too, Mary, so I totally get what you’re saying. I often think, “Were those Israelites just dumb, or what?” But I do the very same things they did! So grateful that God is infinitely more gracious in judgment than I am!
What comes to my mind when I read those words? Relief. Peace. Hope. He is enough, and I am thankful. Thanks for this encouragement today, my friend!
Relief. Peace. Hope. We all need more of those, Lois. Thank you.
Betsy, such an encouraging post. 🙂 I love your points for handling the Red Seas in our lives. Especially what you said here: “When that Red Sea stares you in the face, stand firm on what you know.”
It’s easy to be tossed about by emotions and thoughts and to forget that God is still God. When we remember who He is and stand firm on the truths of His word, that’s when we can know peace. And make the choice to be still (always hard for me too, the do-er).
I so appreciate your reminder that God goes before us into whatever Red Sea we’re facing.
Jeanne, I’m probably Number 1 in allowing myself to be tossed about by emotions and thoughts. Sometimes I live and think as if God didn’t exist!
But I’m learning. Thanks for your encouragement.
“He calls us to a heart attitude of stillness and trust.” Holding onto this reminder, Betsy. Thank you. : )
Thanks for reading, friend. 🙂
Betsy,
I love this verse because, like you, I find myself trying to figure and work things out in my own power. I often personalize this verse…”The Lord will fight for ME, I need only to be still.” What great comfort to know that God goes before me, after me, and is all around me fighting for me. Right now, heading up a non-profit ministry can be very draining…learning to rely more on Him and less on me. Great stuff for me here today!
Blessings,
Bev
May the Lord bless and encourage you as you lead that non-profit, Bev. He sees what you’re doing, and it’s valuable to Him.
Betsy, I love this! Exodus 14:14 is probably one of my favorites. Probably because my natural instinct is to NOT be still. I feel like when I’m being still nothing is being done. But you are so right… It is His power working on our behalf when we are still. I’ll be sharing this one today, for sure!
Thank you so much, Alisa. I appreciate you. I love this scripture too.
Awesome Betsy! Yes, we try to solve our problems and being still and trusting God is not our first response.
Oh Cathy, I appreciate your encouragement. May the Lord hold you still and steadfast, friend.
This fits perfectly with my #OneWord for the year, which is ENOUGH. I always want to be reminded that God is enough for me and I love how Exodus is so full of this truth.
The times when I struggle to believe this most is when I feel that He’s silent. But He always has a way of showing up and then I wonder, why was I worried in the first place.
Thanks for this encouraging word, my friend.
Enough! I like that. I remember your post, Marva. So many beautiful applications to the word “Enough.” It’s hard when it seems like God is silent. Sometimes I’m just not listening, but there are those times when I’m being still, but He does seem silent. Even then, He’s “enough.”
Betsy,
I always need to be reminded God is big enough…Thanks 🙂 Blessings to you in all you do 🙂
Thanks, Dolly. Blessings to you.
Betsy, I loved this: “Friend, no matter what kind of Red Sea you’re facing today, God is big enough.” God is the same yesterday, today and forever. <3
Lisa, I’m praying for you and for your friend’s family. So sorry about what happened. May our big God hug you real big today, friend.
Betsy, I’m your neighbor at Holley Gerth’s. Such a refreshing note here today. I’m not currently facing an impossible situation but what truth you have presented here: don’t be afraid; stand firm; watch; and be still. Yes, we all like to wiggle our way out of our tight spaces. But what we would miss if we did! What a privilege to stand and watch the miraculous work of our loving Father. I’m glad I got to stop by.
Thanks for visiting here today, Cheri. I’m honored that you read my words. May the Lord strengthen you and work on your behalf (even when things aren’t looking so impossible. 🙂 )
Hi Betsy! I think one of the hardest things for me is to ‘keep still’. Like you said, my natural intention is to get up and get moving! Certainly I must have forgotten something? And the Lord helps those who help themselves, right? That’s what my mother always told me.
This is such good confirmation for me. I need to hear from different places that God does indeed want me to be still. As it says in Exodus, “the Lord will fight for you.” Phew. That is good news!
Blessings,
Ceil
We must all be movers and shakers, Ceil, because everyone is commenting on how hard it is to be still. God is big, and we are small. Being still helps us to remember that.
Exodus 14:14 is a verse I return to time and again. My reaction is much like yours, what?!! But I’ve seen God do incredible things in my stillness. He works behind the scenes in amazing ways to sort things out on our behalf – if we can manage to avoid inserting our own plans and muddying the waters. So, so, so grateful for a God who is close at hand and fights for us.
Yes, He does his best work behind the scenes. (I heard in a message once, “He does his best work in dark caves.” –the RESURRECTION!) Blessings on the rest of your week, Tiffany.
Amen Betsy! What a beautiful and timely reminder. We need to remember no matter what the circumstance or trial we are facing; God is more than “BIG” enough to bring us through. Thank you for sharing these poignant scriptures to remind us of God’s POWER. For myself it is hard to “be still” at times because I want to “fix” things but when I see God working in the most desperate of times, my faith “spills over;) It is always a blessing to read what God lays on your heart. Have a wonderful weekend and may God continue to richly bless you and yours!
I’m a fixer too, Horace. Yes, I wrote this to myself, really. I always need to remember that God is Big Enough for whatever I face! Blessings on your week.
Thank you for this good reminder. This story is always so encouraging. We all have our Red Sea experiences and it is hard when we can’t find a way out, but this story builds faith. The same God who let the Israelites through the Red Sea will lead us through our difficult experience. Praise the Lord!
I continue to keep you in my prayers since meeting you through Compel Training. God bless!
Sandy Sheridan
Glad to connect with you through Compel, Sandy! Yes, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thanks for reading here today.
I’m right there with you Betsy. Being “still” is hard for me sometimes! When I’m faced with adversity my first reaction is to try and fix it myself. I need to remember to go to God first and rely on His strength rather than my own. Great lesson!
Thanks for reading today, Kelly. I’m learning the same lesson–to rely on God first–along with you. 🙂
I claim Ex 14:14 often. Whose instinct is it to be still? Never mine!
Blessings on you, Sarah. I need to learn this too!
I love this verse, although it’s much easier to write and teach on it than to actually follow it 🙂 I needed this reminder today – especially as I’ve been pouting over some advice that I need to slow down and lay some things to the side. I don’t want to. I want to press forward and make it all happen, but that’s not letting God do it in His time and in His way. Prayers for you that you can find some stillness in this season.
Thank you, Kathryn! I’m lifting a prayer for you now too. I so appreciate you. Praying that God will work out his purposes for you, friend. Yes, it’s easier to teach about something than to obey it yourself! So often God reminds me of something I’ve written.
Betsy, I needed your words today…God’s words through you. Thank you.
xoxo
So glad Christy. Blessings to you, friend. May He show Himself BIG in your life today!
I love this friend! Thank you for sharing 🙂 I just wrapped up reading Exodus and I feel like you nailed everything I learned I your post! You have a gift. “God is big enough.” Needed the encouragement today!
Thanks so much for reading, Natalia. Exodus is an amazing book, isn’t it?