A Devotion for Strong Women
Scripture: Exodus 14:14 (NIV 1984)
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Have you ever found yourself trying to hold everything together? The family, the responsibilities, the relationships, the worries about your children, the decisions that need to be made, and the things you cannot seem to fix no matter how hard you try? As women, we can fall into the habit of believing that if we just work harder, think longer, pray more frantically, or find the right solution, we can somehow make everything turn out the way it should.
But in Exodus 14, the Israelites found themselves in a situation they could not fix. The Red Sea was in front of them, Pharaoh's army was behind them, and there appeared to be no way out. They were trapped, afraid, and facing something far bigger than their own strength could overcome. And it was right there, when they had run out of options, that Moses reminded them of this powerful truth: “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
I think we women need that reminder more often than we realize.
Being still doesn't mean we stop caring, stop working, or stop doing the things God has called us to do. It doesn't mean we sit back and expect life to magically become easy. It means we recognize that we are not God. We are not responsible for controlling every outcome, fixing every problem, changing every heart, or carrying every burden. We have a Savior who is far more capable than we are, and He does not need us to take His place.
Sometimes the hardest part of faith is releasing our grip on the very things we desperately want to control. We want to protect our children from every hurt. We want to fix the relationships that are falling apart. We want answers when life doesn't make sense. We want to know how the story will end before we are willing to take the next step. But God doesn't always give us the full picture. Sometimes He simply calls us to trust Him today.
And here's the beautiful thing about this passage: God didn't ask the Israelites to defeat Pharaoh's army themselves. He called them to trust Him while He worked in a way they could never have accomplished on their own. Their deliverance would come from the Lord, not from their ability to control the situation. Their deliverance would come from the very obstacle they saw in their way that they thought would end them.
The same truth applies to us today. We can faithfully do what is ours to do while trusting God with what is beyond our control. We can love our families, speak the truth in love, make wise decisions, work diligently, and pray fervently without believing that everything depends on us. We can take the next right step even when we cannot see the whole path.
So, dear Strong Woman, if you are standing between a sea you cannot cross and a problem you cannot outrun, take a breath. Bring your fears to the Lord. Open His Word. Remember His promises. Do what He has placed in front of you today, and leave the outcome in His hands. You may not know how He will provide, when He will answer, or what the next chapter will look like, but you can trust the God who has already proven Himself faithful.
You don't have to fight every battle in your own strength. Sometimes faith looks like taking a step forward, and sometimes it looks like standing still and trusting the God who goes before you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I try to carry burdens You never asked me to carry. When I feel overwhelmed by the things I cannot fix or control, remind me that You are God and I am not. Give me wisdom to know what You have called me to do and faith to leave the outcomes in Your hands. Help me be still in Your promises, courageous in my obedience, and confident in Your faithfulness. When I cannot see a way forward, remind me that You are never limited by what I can see. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Reflection for Your Heart
What is one situation you have been trying to control that you need to surrender to God today?
Take a moment to name it in prayer. Then ask yourself: What is mine to do faithfully today, and what do I need to leave in God's hands?
You can be faithful without being in control.
With love and purpose,
Sara | Vital Life Solutions with Sara
