Psalm 16:8: “I know the Lord is always with me, I will not be shaken.” NLT
There are many places in Scripture that give encouragement in the face of difficulties or difficult times. The Psalms are full of encouragement while acknowledging difficult times. David often bemoaned his trials, the people who were trying to take him down, and seemingly impossible situations. But he always came back to acknowledge that the Lord was always faithful, would never forsake him, and would bring him out on the other side.
Paul wrote the letter to the church in Ephesus which we know as the Book of Ephesians from prison, to encourage the Christians there to stand firm in the midst of trials and to know who they were as the church. In this letter, Paul told them he was praying two things for them.
#1: That they would be strengthened with power in their inner being. Not so they could go out and fight but that Christ could dwell in their hearts through faith.
#2: That they would be rooted and established in love so that they would have the power to grasp the depths of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
Those don’t seem like useful weapons for fighting battles. Paul was in prison and they were being persecuted. But Paul knew there is a time to fight and there is a time to stand still and let the Lord fight the battles. Exodus 14:13: Moses told the Israelites as they stood looking at the Red Sea blocking their way of escape with the Egyptians hot on their trail: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Sometimes being still is the hardest thing to do. I am a “doer.” If a problem arises, I do research; how can I fix this? Who can I contact to help me? What resources do I need to overcome this problem? “I,” “I,” “I.” God says, “No; Me, Me, Me.” He is an all-powerful God and he doesn’t need my puny help to bring deliverance.
Let’s get strengthened in our inner being and get rooted and established in love and see the Lord fight for us!!!
Naomi Brinkman
