Over the years I have found myself in what seemed like desperate situations, frantically trying to figure out what to do. Sometimes I made some wrong choices. On one such occasion, I was operating in anxiety mode exhausting all human possibilities, but still dutifully doing my bible reading, and the Lord brought this verse to mind along with a companion verse, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” I knew that it was the Lord speaking to me and I released the situation to him. I received His peace and shortly thereafter the problem was resolved.
    There have been other times that I was asking the Lord what I needed to do and I clearly heard the word “Wait”. When you feel like you need to do something or you feel like something needs to be happening that is a difficult word to hear. Peter wrote that God isn’t slack concerning His promises, but God doesn’t get in a hurry. When you have all wisdom and all power and know the end from the beginning, you know when the right time is and He does.
 
     As I was reading the Psalms this morning, I once again read Psalms 46: 10 and there it was,”Be still and know I am God.” I really felt I was to write something today, but there was nothing burning in my heart. Once again this verse leaped off the page, but I sensed it was not so much for me as it was for someone else. I had this sense that someone was in panic mode, that they were darting back and forth like a squirrel startled by a car on the highway. I have seen squirrels panic and run back under a wheel when they had it made. If that’s you, the Lord is speaking to you this morning, “Be still and know that I am God.” Stop and take deep breath, collect your thoughts (really you probably need to bring them captive to the obedience of Christ) and let’s wait on the Lord and get His mind in this situation. Often the Lord allows us to exhaust all human possibility bringing us to the end of ourselves so that all we can do is turn to Him. I often jokingly say, ” All we can do now is pray, oh no! has it come to that?” That is sad, but true, in so many instances. God wants us to turn to Him first.
 
    I just saw someone in my spirit treading water and they were growing weary, barely keeping their head above water.  I am reminded of a camp that I ran at a children’s home many years ago. It was on a tidal river and when the tide was in, we would take the kids skiing. The younger kids begged and pleaded to go, so I devised a test they had to pass before they could attempt to ski. It was a fairly simple test. They had to swim the length of the pool and tread water for a full minute before swimming back. One eight year old boy was very determined that he would pass so he could ski. After about 20 seconds he began to sink. I extended a broom for him to grab, but he wouldn’t take it; he was frantically paddling as he sank.  I had to go down and pull him out. Some folks are like that little boy; so determined to get what they want that they reject the lifeline even though they are sinking. Some allow pride to keep them from getting the help they need. There are others, who through no fault of their own find themselves sinking. Don’t panic and flail at the water, just rest in the Lord, and He will buoy you up.
 
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say on the Lord! Psalms 27:13,14
 
I believe this is a word for someone this morning and it it’s not for you, then you may know someone who is panicking, fretful, or anxious this morning. Feel free to pass it along. May these additional verses encourage you:
 
Commit (to roll) your way to the Lord (over on Him), Trust also in Him and He will bring it to pass. Psalms 37:5 (parentheses mine)
 
Casting all your cares upon Him for He careth for you. 2 Peter 5:7
 
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28
 
Be blessed,
Herb Dean