Stand firm, stand firm, stand firm. How do you stand firm in a storm?
It’s never easy when you’ve been going through a difficult time where the battle seems endless and tiring. I’ve found myself there many times. As I look back God has always come through. He’s been there from the beginning pushing me to do the sacrificial thing though it hurt and was painful. I realized it wasn’t in vain, but to bring out the best in my own heart. It’s what He was after the whole time. God says in his Word people look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). God saw my heart and knew the condition of it. He knew what was needed to bring about change not only for me, but my hubby and kids. It was for generations to come and was I willing to be the starting point of that generational shift.
Most of us heard the story of Moses. God chose him to bring the Israelites out of bondage from Egypt and prepared Moses to stand before Pharaoh. God not only instructed Moses, but showed him miraculous signs before He sent him to strike the Egyptians with plagues. Even though Moses saw God’s power and authority firsthand, he still dealt with his own inadequacies and fears, but God used him anyways. Through it all Moses kept stepping out doing God’s will and after the last plague was performed, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go but again he changed his mind. Pharaoh along with his officers pursued the Israelites and by this time they were camped by the Red Sea. As the Israelites saw the Egyptians marching after them, they were terrified and cried out to the LORD. Then in Exodus 14:13-14, “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.’” I can’t help but think how Moses responded. What a bold statement he made, and it was evident of what he believed to be true after all he had witnessed God do.
We all face times when we question… Will God come through for me? Like Moses, we need to stand firm in difficult times. Standing firm is the stance you take in what you believe to be true. What do you believe to be true about your situation? What do you believe to be true about God? Whatever you believe matters greatly, it gives purpose to your cause. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Don’t allow your own inadequacies and fears cause you to lose sight of God’s power and authority in your situation. As the Lord heard the Israelites cry out, He hears your cry. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from their troubles." (Ps. 34:17) Deliverance finally came for the Israelites. In verse 16 the LORD said to Moses, “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” All night the LORD held back the waters of the Red Sea for the Israelites as the Egyptians kept pursuing them. Then in verse 27, “Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea.” What a miraculous moment!
You might be facing your own Red Sea, questioning how God can possibly deliver you from your present situation. As God caused the sea to split for the Israelites, He’s making a way for you. God prepared Moses beforehand and He’s prepared you. Think about those moments in your life when God came through for you. The God of yesterday is the same God today. Whatever God has done for you in the past, He can do in your present situation. Despite Moses’ inadequacies and fears, God still used him and provided everything he needed to carry out His will as He will for you. Trust God with the process, because you don’t know what He’s trying to produce in you and through you. Also, God used the staff in Moses’ hand to perform His miracles. God will use your willing heart to cause miraculous things to happen. Willingness is the state of being prepared to do something, readiness. Are you ready to do whatever God calls you to do? Stand firm in that. Standing firm takes great willpower to believe and persevere when facing a “Red Sea” situation and you see no way out. Believe God is greater than your present situation because He’s faithful and fights for you. So hold on, stand firm, deliverance is coming!
"It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger.
He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is nvisible."
Hebrews 11:27 NLT
Song: Egypt by Bethel Music feat. Cory Asbury