Stand Still!!!
From my favorite devotional: I needed this one today.... Exodus 14:13-And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. I. Take our text first, as A PICTURE OF THE BELIEVER WHEN HE IS REDUCED TO GREAT STRAITS. Then God's command to him is, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." In this brief sentence there are two things very conspicuous: first, what is to be done, "Stand still;" and secondly, what is to be seen, "See the salvation of the Lord." 1. What is to be done? The man is brought, we will suppose, into very extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat—that is sure destruction; he cannot go forward—that appears to be an impossibility: on the right hand he is shut up by providential hindrances; on the left an adversary prevents him. Here, then, is the counterpart of Israel's position: Egyptians behind, the Red Sea in front, the craggy steeps of Pi-hahiroth on the right, and the fortresses of Migdol and Baal-zephon frowning on the left. What is the believer now to do? The Master's word is the same to him as to Israel, "Stand still." Brethren, let me warn you of other advisers. Despair whispers, "Cast thyself down, lie down and die; complain against God; give it all up. You have been buffeting for years with circumstances, and you have made no headway; give up the unequal contest; float with the stream, even though you go over the cataract; let the worst come to the worst, for there is no hope of any success in life for you. If the Lord will always give you evil and not good, then curse God, and die. No longer attempt to provide things honest in the sight of all men, just let things go as they will; drift into poverty, or die in a ditch. God has given you up; evidently you have been the butt for all his arrows, the target for all his shots. Now, despair, let there be an end of the thing." Not so, saith the God of our salvation; he loves us too well to bid us yield to despondency. He would have us put a cheerful courage on, and even in our worst times rejoice in his love and faithfulness. Faith hears the bidding of her faithful God, and is not willing to be shut up in the iron cage of despair; nay, she defies the old giant to put so much as a finger upon her. Lie down and die? that she never will, while her God bids her stand. See, beloved, the word stand. What does it mean? Keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice. This is a noble posture, but to despair, is mean and beggarly. Up, brother, play the man, be strong! While Jehovah lives there is no room for fear; a happy future awaits thee; yea, the present itself is bright with mercy, for the Lord's love is still the same. By C.H. Spurgeon