After a near-drowning experience as a child, it seemed rather fitting that, 10 years later, I would take a water lifesaving class.
With proficient swimming skills and lessons on the “reach, throw, row, go” methods, we were then instructed on how to approach someone who was drowning. While it is always best to have a water safety device with you during a rescue, sometimes that is not an option.
We were told not to engage with them directly face to face, as their thrashing could cause them to pull you under in panic. Instead, we were taught to approach from behind and use a firm, commanding force to tell them to “be still” while swimming them to safety. Commanding stillness in a moment of chaos mirrors the way God invites us into trust, using our stillness as the stage on which He reveals His glory.
When the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt after a series of plagues that convinced Pharaoh to let them go that “freedom” seemed to be short-lived. Pharaoh’s army was barreling down in pursuit of recapturing the Israelites who were now trapped in the desert and surrounded by the Red Sea. In panic and fear the people cried out to their leader Moses questioning why they were “brought” out to the wilderness just to die.
In Exodus 14:14 Moses declares God’s power on behalf of His people “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Moses challenged the people to trust in God’s deliverance even though they could not see a way out. God was still in control of the situation, even though from their vantage point the circumstances seemed hopeless. God was fighting this battle for his people.
Their job was to trust, wait and see what He will do. The people were told to just “be still.” “Being still” is a calm trust in the intervention of God. It is a quiet call to faith, not mere inactivity, but an active place to see God move. In response to Moses’ plea for the people to trust and “be still,” God parted the Red Sea, allowing them to walk to freedom on dry ground — far from the reach of their enemies.
We all face personal battles — whether it is illness, financial struggle, or relational conflict. This Scripture reminds us to seek God first and trust His plan. Sometimes we may be called to react, but letting go of control and embracing faith and silence can encourage us in peace and divine trust.
So, what about you? What circumstances in your life feel hopeless right now? Are you trying to solve it all on your own — or are you letting God fight for you? How can you choose to “be still” today, even in the midst of chaos, and trust that God is working for His glory and your good?
Choose to be still and let God fight for you!
Frank Alioto serves as the Pastor of Roots Family Church and serves as a chaplain in our community.
