Exodus 14:14 (ESV)
Or, as another version puts it,
"...ADONAI will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!"
(Complete Jewish Bible)
...only be silent? ...just calm yourselves down?
Proving once again that God has a sense of humor... He knows this is the part we find virtually impossible.
Except He's not joking. Re-read Exodus 14:14, not just as a command to the Israelites preparing to cross the Red Sea on foot, but to us. This is secret territory, a land found by His noblest, gentlest, most powerfully Spirit-led saints.
Will I ever fully find it? That depends on me. Can I let go of the need to fight my own battles? I've been fighting them forever. I'm an inveterate problem-juggler. I've had to be, humanly speaking. A while ago I found some notes I had written to myself two or three years back -- reminders about things I had to tend to urgently. Other notes in the pile were so upsetting I threw them away; these were what was left.
Prior to finding these notes, I had begun reading quite a bit of Oswald Chambers, who perfectly fits the description in the last sentence of the second paragraph above. I picked up the stack of notes, placed it on my pillow, and said to God, "Here. Read this." The pages were blanketed with scribbles; some of the notes had exclamation marks after them; once or twice, the word "HELP" appeared. I may have muttered something rather unsisterly about dear Oswald as I put the notes on the pillow.
Yes, re-read Exodus 14:14. This is secret territory. He calls us all to it, but so few find it.
We need to learn to be silent and calm. Not inactive, for in Him we live, and move, and have our being, but letting Him take over the "worrying" part. LET GO. (I'm talking to myself here.)
How? By letting Him orchestrate the days. The hours are His. Walk through them in obedience. Spend sweet time with Him. Set Him free to reveal His heart to us, through His word and through our circumstances, as He sees fit. Praise Him all the day, and all the night. Remember all He has done for us -- lift it to Him daily as a memorial song.
This is secret territory. He calls us to it. Let Him fill our hearts and days with Himself. Let Him set the agenda, and let us calmly walk in it. Let us run after Him and adore Him.
How He works out the rest is His own business.
Draw me, we will run after Thee: the King hath brought me into His chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.
Song of Solomon 1:4 (KJV)