My hand was on the door handle, ready to open the stall and leave the bathroom. But then I heard familiar voices and stood perfectly still. The Sunday worship service was about to start, and two women from the church were standing at the sink talking about our pastor while washing their hands. They thought they were alone. Their comments about him were small and mean. They took turns criticizing the pastor’s sermon, his tie, and even his hair. I was so angry I could barely breathe.

That pastor? He was my dad.

I hid inside the stall until I heard them leave. I was so hurt and enraged. I wished I could forget what I had just heard, but I couldn’t. I joined the two sister saints in the sanctuary and listened to them sing with the choir — you know, songs about Jesus? His love and grace? Ugh.

To this day, I wish I’d had the nerve to swing that door wide open and with a big toothy grin, give a big cheery “Hey there!” Then they would have felt as miserable as I was feeling, though for altogether different reasons. Trust me, their hands were not the only things that needed to be washed that day. If my no-nonsense mama had been there, two somebodies would have had their mouths washed out with soap!

Girl, that happened when I was in the eighth grade and I still remember it. I remember my fury and how I just wanted to bust out of that stall, ready to fight.

We’ve all had situations in our lives when we just want to fight back, right? When someone is unkind or unfair or mean toward us, it’s hard to just stand there and take it. When we feel like an enemy is in attack mode, we want to fight back.

When you feel that way, instead of lashing out, you can stand still.  Exodus 14:14 says, The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

That’s what Moses said to the Israelites who were standing at the edge of the Red Sea. The Egyptian army was on their heels, ready to destroy them, and the deep, uncrossable sea was right in front of them. They were stuck. I can imagine they were standing still and the last thing they wanted was to be planted there — don’t you think there were some in that crowd who were paralyzed with fright and others who were itching to fight?

When we find ourselves in hurtful situations, it isn’t our instinct to just stand there. If we’re honest, we often really do want to fight back. Sometimes we just don’t have any other choice except to just stand there and wait. That is our best choice because it really isn’t our fight anyway.

The battle that was supposedly between the fleeing Israelites and the angry Egyptians wasn’t actually between them at all. The Israelites were God’s people and this was His fight. You are God’s child and the battles you face are His battles.

When we stand still, we get out of God’s way so He can take care of us and the situation.

Now, this is not to be mistaken for doormat theology! No… this girl is not saying that you should just lay down and let everybody and every situation stomp on you. I am not recommending complete passivity, but I am suggesting that you and I can be slow to anger, turn the other cheek and trust that victory belongs to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31 ESV)

I really don’t know what would have happened if I had busted out of that bathroom stall like a righteous teenage ninja quoting Scripture about gossip and kindness to those women. And, I have no idea what would have resulted from me quietly leaving the bathroom while they watched me wipe away tears.

Perhaps it would have been a full blown revival of repentance right there right then. Or maybe not one thing at all would have changed. What I do know is that every battle I face is not mine. My battles are the Lord’s, and He fights for me in the way and timing He chooses. He uses only weapons of love and mercy and justice as He fights.

So, if you’ve  got a battle, then you’ve got a choice. You can either stand still and trust that God will fight for you, or you can freak out and possibly make it worse. Sometimes we just need to get out of the way and under God’s will and watch Him bring victory. When we choose to be still, we do begin to know, I mean really know, that He is God. And, the best part of really knowing that He is God is knowing that we are not.

Let’s lay down our weapons and battle plans and be still. Here are some Scriptures that will help you to stand still and strong:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV)

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24 ESV)

If you’re facing a battle, in the comments below, make a statement declaring that you will be still and watch God fight for you. Write out a prayer of faith asking Him for His help. We will pray for each other.