You Must Be Quiet

I was talking to my stressed certified public accountant (CPA).  It is that time of year when he prepares tax returns for all his clients. The strain on his face was palpable, so his answer was no surprise when I asked him what I could pray for him. “Ask God to relieve the stress and anxiety of this tax season.” 
           
​Eric requests prayer for Ben and Kelly’s failing marriage. Erwin needs intercession for his beloved wife, Sue’s deteriorating health. Jerry seeks wisdom in his job addressing conflicts with Iran, Russia, Ukraine, China, Taiwan, Israel, and Hamas. Nanette argues passionately for the right to see her grandson to the deaf ears of a drug-addicted daughter.  Her prayer is for reconciliation and healing.

Can you feel their blood pressure rising? Now, imagine yourself in a desert with a chariot-led army bearing down in fury on you and all your countrymen trapped between them and the Red Sea!  All they want to do is kill you. You have nowhere to run, and running can’t escape them.
 
Meditation
Exodus 14:14--The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.
 
Be quiet?!  What?!!  Are you kidding me?!!!! We are about to die, and the slaughter will be immense as we have few weapons and no chance against Pharaoh’s forces.  The wailing of the masses in their terrified state must have been something as they cried out to God for help.  Unruffled Moses met their panicked emotions with implausible words of faith. “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the LORD’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again” (14:13).
           
When we walk into the arena called Stress, it is counterintuitive to be still, hold our peace, stay calm, rest, or be quiet. Our fight-or-flight emotions kick in, and we seek any possible means to escape trouble. At this moment, we need to breathe deeply, pray to our Father in heaven, and be quiet so He can exercise His power and win our battle.  This requires faith. Such faith is rewarded by walls of water held back by the breath of God that plunge over an astonished enemy as we escape safely to the other bank that awaits our reassured souls.
           
Read aloud and personalize those words again, “The Lord will fight for me; I must be quiet.” Do you believe it?  Are you willing to let omnipotence relieve impotence?  Will you stand up straight, close your eyes, lift your palms to heaven, and worship amid your war—“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming” (Revelation 4:8b). Something to think about . . . in reveration! 
           
Inspiration
“Give me that buoyant, quiet confidence in Thee which is the witness of the Spirit.”—Oswald Chambers

​©2024 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.     
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)