This has been a long few years for me. Like so many, I’ve been in the throws of dire situations with seemingly no way out. I sometimes look back and think, wow, I can’t believe what I’ve been through, and am still going through.
Pulling the curtain back on my life I get the clear impression that I am embedded. I am nestled right in between a rock and a hard place with little to no wiggle room. This season has formed around my soul and engulfed me.
Softly I hear the voice of my Heavenly Father speak,
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14 NIV)
But in order to hear Him I have had to be quiet and I am not often quiet when I struggle.
When difficult things happen I think it is so natural to fight, kick, fuss and try to change things. When you put your hand in the flame you the pain makes you instinctively pull it back out. I am a fixer by nature. I’m always trying to problem solve and I have not had much success with all the complicated and unresolved problems that loom over me. The frustration that things haven’t changed is the most difficult for me.
But there is something that is beginning to change. It’s me. At times feel like a child who is held tight during a full blown tantrum. Finally, I am beginning to rest out of pure exhaustion in the arms of my loving Father. I have no energy to fight, fuss or even pray for that matter if I’m being honest. In this emerging moment of my life I really begin to grasp that the Lord understands. I have to face my weakness in order to embrace His sufficiency.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26 NIV)
When He tells me to be still, He means it. It is for my own good. In being still the Spirit of God goes before the Father on my behalf to pray for me. It’s in this act of surrender that heaven touches my soul and I get a sense that there is more to what I’m going through than meets my eye and I begin to wonder.
Perhaps becoming embedded has freed me in a way I had never thought of before. Oh don’t get me wrong, I so feel like a prisoner at times but I’m finding freedom in ways I had not expected. Being imbedded forces me to discover the promises of God. I will either be swallowed up by fear, anger and doubt or choose a different path. The power of God is at work here. Only the Lord could make me have a desire to rest in His promises. Left to myself, I would lose the battle with fear.
Once again, I softly hear the voice of my Heavenly Father whisper the words King David wrote,
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10 NIV)
I would not need to hear these words if I weren’t embedded. I could not know the realities found in this promise if I hadn’t been here.
by Randi Helm
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Anna D. says
Randi this so.sounds like my life right now. The following really ” found” me exactly where I am today….
”The power of God is at work here. Only the Lord could make me have a desire to rest in His promises. Left to myself, I would lose the battle with fear. ”
Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Randi says
Hi Anna, I’m glad God gave you a word of encouragement today. It always amazes me how He gets our attention. God Bless.
Charina @ Pondered Thoughts says
“I have to face my weakness in order to embrace His suffiency.”
This is so true Randi, so true.
The same way that He so wants us to come to Him… Just wrote about this in my latest post. Blessings!
Randi says
This is a truth that I have to admit I haven’t wanted to face in my life so glad to know others are on the same journey. God Bless!
Leslie, Y says
You really articulated all that I’ve been feeling since August. Some says I feel strong and believe He is with me in all the mess I’m having to deal with now and other days I feel totally forgotten. In my quiet time a week ago it hit me that I need to just rest in Him. I’ve done all that I can and it is in His hands now. I have to believe He has the master plan for my life so I’m now accepting that I have to let go and let Him fight my battles and deal with my situations.
Randi says
Leslie, I feel your pain! I can’t quite stop fighting myself and my emotions some days. Living out trust in Him means I relinquish my fears, unmet expectations and dreams and choose to believe in His promises. It’s a daily thing for me most days. Romans 15:13 Blessings to you.
Sarah says
I am feeling you on all this! It’s an ongoing thing too, right? Not just giving it to God, but -leaving- it with him. Sometimes the fear and doubt & wondering how we’re going to make it through take hold again. It leaves me wondering “where did the peace go?”. Eventually the reason occurs to me, I’m relying on myself again.
Thank you for sharing your circumstance. It’s very comforting & renewing to hear others situations & how they give it to Jesus & not look back. 🙂
Randi says
Sarah, thanks for your encouragement. It’s good to know that so many have felt, or feel, the way I do. I am finding I have to keep revisiting the stories of men and women of faith from Scripture. I learn so much about trusting God through their struggles. We need the Lord each moment don’t we? Praying for a blessed day for you today.
Martha Orlando says
So moving, stirring, and so true!
It is only when we stop trying to fight the battles of life ourselves that God steps in and sees us through.
An inspiring post!
Blessings to you!
Randi says
Thanks Martha. You are right, less fight and more room for God! Thanks for commenting.
Betty Draper says
“I have to face my weakness in order to embrace His suffiency.” That phrase is going in my quote book…the truth of it moved my old stubborn heart today. It is in knowing Him that gives us hope and strength to “be still” or “to wait” which has been what the what He has been softly singing in my soul for several months now. Thank you for the honest post. Blessing
Kimberly says
I love that God is our Protector and Defender! When we are weak, He is STRONG!
Randi says
AMEN Kimberly! Just what I needed to hear this morning! Thanks for commenting.
Darlene says
Beautiful words this morning. Embedded and knowing the promises of God. A wonderful place to be. The power of God working on my behalf. Thank you.
Randi says
I too love the image of being Embedded in God’s promises. It helps me regain trust when doubt and fear re-emerge! Thanks for commenting.
Kaitlin @ Perceptions & Passions says
Um. Seriously. Never read / heard that Bible passage before and you know how there are “life verses” that people cling to.
Well, good golly, that’s mine.
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14 NIV)
I am always looking for BIGGER BETTER SOONER; being impatient with the NOW is my BIGGEST personal struggle (probably left over “not good enough” child syndrom).
THANK YOU FOR MY LIFE VERSE (well, for blogging about it…cuz God wrote it haha)
Randi says
Kaitlin, so true…God did write this one. Even today I have awaken to a renewed battle for trusting in His timing and His perspective on my situation. I too deal with the “not good enough” stuff! Finding all these fun comments has helped re-direct me back to the truth that God is still ruling! Glad you found what you needed from Him today!
Kathleen says
How did read my mind? God’s word for me for 2012 is trust. What He is showing me is that I cannot be in control and trust at the same time. I have to choose. Do I fight it – you bet – but thanks to His grace I am learning and leaning into His arms a little more each day and struggling a little less.
Randi says
Kathleen, I think this a theme for me as well…and I’m sure so many! I like what you said about “I cannot be in control and trust at the same time.” so TRUE!
jennifer says
It’s like you wrote exactly what my injured brain can not articulate right now–down to the part where I don’t exactly even know what to pray for at times, except for the ability to rest in him and be secure that in time, everything will be okay. I will be healed, or I won’t, but through HIM, I will be okay.
Bless you for these words.
Randi says
I pray that you find rest for your soul today Jennifer. We are all safe in His arms even when we really don’t feel safe. Thanks for reminding me of this.
Lisa says
I have been in the midst of the most difficult years of my life and, at the same time, in the midst of the best years of my life. God has become so precious to me as I trust and let go. It is scary but exciting. I cry because I am grieve the losses and then because I am overwhelmed with the goodness of God. I love the words you wrote “nestled between a rock and a hard place.” I picture myself leaning on Christ, the Rock, as I am caught in my “hard place. ” I know this is when I am suppose to be and God is at work…and most of that is in me! I was encouraged by your words.
Randi says
Lisa, I’m so glad you found encouragement. So often the struggles reveal how little I know about God and myself. And yet, God uses them to teach me how encompassing He is…that I can be leaning on Him and experience deep trial and still be safe. God Bless.
Wendy Davis says
True faith is born out of our adversities.
Someone shared this in our small group this morning.
How can we have faith if that faith has not yet been tested?
God is always faithful to show himself, to make himself known, if we will but allow him to.
Randi says
Hi Wendy,
God is faithful but we have to be tested in order to know this don’t we. I’m so happy that someone found this worthy of sharing at small group!
Lisa-Jo @thegypsymama says
Thank you for this great and encouraging reminder. Boy if I don’t need to tell myself this regularly!
Randi says
Me too Lisa-Jo!
Michele says
Thanks for this encouragement today!
Randi says
I’m glad you found encouragement today.