The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:14 NLT)
The NLT ends this verse with “Just stay calm”. The NKJV says “hold your peace”. When we're smack-bang in the middle of a battle – illness, a relationship breakdown, financial challenges, maybe you're even at a loss for the next step for you life – the temptation is to get frantic and grab hold of some sort of control. But nowhere, not one section, of the Bible teaches us to worry, stress or freak out. It actually says that worry won't change our situation one bit (Matt 6). Physiologically speaking, stress causes everything in your body to contract. Every muscle starts to tense up and arteries and airways restrict. Blood flow slows down. Stress actually inhibits the proper function of the body. When you think about it in broad terms, it causes you to limit, contract and shrink back – to decrease. All actions opposite to the nature of God…who has come to give us life and life more abundantly (John 10:10) – to increase! You're now thinking “it's impossible for me to live without stress, I've got to much of it!” – the good news is God has designed a release valve for stress…it's called prayer! Ps 55:11 says “…cast your cares on The Lord”. You aren't and weren't designed to carry worry or tension. God says that's His job! Instead we're to rest in His peace. It will surpass all your understanding and guard your heart and mind (Phil 4:6)…after all He is the “Prince of Peace” and He is the one who promises there is a future and hope for us! Today, don't freak out. Just use your stress relief valve, prayer and hold your peace. We know you can live in all His fullness…praying for you!
