The Lord will Fight for You: Finding Peace in Your Everyday Battles
But Moses told the people, “Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
— Exodus 14:13–14 (NLT)
What battles are you fighting today?
Maybe it's a cranky toddler whinging at your feet, or a proposal you're trying to push through at work. Perhaps you're navigating tricky family relationships and the expectations of your spouse, children or parents. Or maybe the battle is in your mind: worry, fear and anxiety that just won't let up. It might be a health battle. Or a never-ending mountain of laundry.
Some battles seem small in the grand scheme of things (hello, laundry pile). Others feel as though the fate of the world hangs in the balance, like the behaviour of your teenagers. Whatever the size or shape of the enemy, most of us seem to spend a lot of life in some kind of war.
The good news? God's Word is full of help and encouragement for us.
The Lord Will Fight for You
In Exodus 14, Moses has just led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Instead of taking them along the main road, God led them the long way round, straight toward the sea. Then Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them. With the sea in front and chariots behind, the people were terrified (and who could blame them?).
These weren't seasoned soldiers. They had no military training and no weapons to speak of. They were slaves who had spent generations in forced labour. The roar of approaching chariots and the dust cloud rising on the horizon would have been utterly terrifying.
But God's instruction wasn't "Grab whatever you can find for a weapon." It wasn't "Run and hide." It was "Stand still."
God opened a path through the sea, dry ground with walls of water on either side. Once his people were safely across, he let the waters return, and the army that had chased them was gone. The Israelites didn't need to be afraid. God had it all in hand.
Stand Still or Step Up?
Of course, not every battle looks like this one. Just a few chapters later, in Exodus 17, the Israelites had to take up swords and fight the Amalekites. Sometimes God calls us to act, too.
But how often do we fight battles God already has in hand? How often do we worry and fret instead of trusting his plan? How often do we charge in, swords drawn, when he's asking us to stay calm and let him fight for us?
So let me ask you: What would it look like for you to stand still and trust God with your battle today? What might He do if you waited for Him instead of rushing in?
Then Comes the Song
On the far side of the sea, Miriam took up her tambourine and led the women in celebration:
Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.
—Exodus 15:21, NLT
Standing still wasn't the end of the story. It made room for God to act, and for his people to see it and sing.
When you're facing a battle, take it to God first and ask for his guidance. And may we be women full of faith, ready to stand still and watch the Lord fight for us.
A prayer for today: Lord, you see the battles I'm facing, big and small. Help me bring each one to you before I rush in. Give me the courage to stand still when you ask me to, and the faith to trust that you are fighting for me. Amen.
