When Stillness Feels Impossible

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14 NIV

You know that feeling when the house is quiet, your phone isn’t buzzing, nobody needs anything, and for once, your body isn’t flaring up, and your mind isn’t in overdrive? That rare moment when you get to just—be.

That’s when I feel still. Not in some big, dramatic way. Just a quiet breath that makes me feel human again. And honestly, it’s because most of the time I’m giving everything I have to the people I love. My family means everything to me. If they’re okay, I’m okay. Their peace becomes my peace.

Understanding the Call to Be Still: Trusting in Divine Strength

When I read a verse like “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14), it sounds comforting but also a bit confusing. What does being still even look like when your heart is always with the people you care for? What does it mean to let God fight for you when you’ve learned always to show up, always be strong, and always handle it?

Let’s be real. “Being still” doesn’t always look like quiet prayer time or peaceful mornings. Sometimes it’s collapsing on the couch after doing everything for everyone else. Sometimes it’s that one day a month when your body isn’t in pain, and your thoughts aren’t heavy. Sometimes it’s just not being in crisis.

The Struggle to Let Go and Trust

For me, stillness shows up when my world finally gives me a second to breathe. It’s rare and precious. Even then, when things are calm, I still struggle to rest. Part of me believes that if I don’t keep going, everything will fall apart. It’s like I trust God with the world, but I still think I need to be the one holding up mine.

When Moses told the Israelites, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still,” they stood before the Red Sea, terrified. Pharaoh’s army was closing in, and they panicked. God didn’t say, “Fight harder.” He didn’t say, “Have more faith.” He said, “Be still.” And then he did the impossible.

 

Trusting in God's Strength When You Feel Weak

This verse isn’t about how holy, strong, or spiritual you are. It’s about how strong God is, even when you’re scared, unsure, or exhausted. Being still isn’t giving up. It’s saying: “God, I’ve done what I can. Now I trust you to do what only you can.”

Here’s what I’m slowly learning. Letting go doesn’t mean I don’t care. Resting doesn’t mean I’m lazy. Being still doesn’t mean I’m failing. It means I trust that God loves my family even more than I do. It means I believe he’s working behind the scenes, even when I can’t see it. It means I choose to believe I don’t have to fight every battle on my own. That kind of stillness takes courage, especially when you’re used to doing it all.

Embrace Stillness Amidst Life's Chaos

Stillness isn’t something you earn when life is perfect. It’s something you receive, right in the middle of your mess, your exhaustion, your wondering. The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still. You can do that even if it’s just one breath at a time.

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, you see how tired we are. You see how we show up for everyone else, even when our own strength feels thin. You know how hard it is for us to slow down, rest, and trust that everything won’t collapse if we stop pushing for a moment. Teach us what stillness really means. Not the kind that demands perfection or quiet rooms, but the kind that meets us right where we are, on the couch, in chaos, in exhaustion. Help us release the battles we were never meant to fight alone. Remind us that you are already working, already moving, already fighting on our behalf. Give us the courage to loosen our grip, even just a little, and breathe. Cover our families, our hearts, and our minds with your peace. When stillness feels impossible, be our rest. When trust feels hard, be our strength. And when all we can manage is one deep breath, meet us there. Amen.

Your Turn: What are you holding onto because you’re afraid everything will fall apart if you let go? Who or what are you trying to protect or fight for that God may be asking you to trust Him with instead? What would it look like to give God just one battle today instead of carrying them all?