“When God Says Be Still”
“When God Says Be Still” • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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There are times when God's command roars like thunder: "Go into all the world!" "Speak truth!" "Stand and fight!"—and we respond with urgency, movement, and mission. But then, there are sacred moments when His voice does not call us to motion, but to stillness.
This is no ordinary pause. It is holy. It is sanctified. It is the Spirit’s invitation to step away from striving and step into surrender. In that stillness, God is not absent—He is magnified. He is not silent—He is sovereign.
In Exodus 14:13–14 with an enemy on their heels and the sea ahead, Moses declares, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” Not a military strategy—just holiness in action: trust without panic, reverence without resistance. It’s the posture of a soul sanctified by the Spirit, unmoved by fear, anchored in divine presence.
13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”
Psalm 46 doesn’t say “Be still and hope it gets better.” It says,
“Be still and know that I am God.”
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Stillness is not the absence of movement—it’s the presence of God. It’s the place where our holiness is not proven by doing, but by dwelling.
Today, we’re not just talking about a difference in direction—we're talking about a deeper dedication. The kind of stillness where sanctification breathes, where God burns away the noise and leaves the soul radiant and quiet in Him.
So, church—before we act, before we speak, before we move—let us be still.And let that stillness be holy.
When God Calls Us to Stand Still
This is often a call to trust, not to inactivity.
Lets look at Exodus 14:13–14, 13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.” [1]
when Moses told the Israelites at the Red Sea: “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” They were hemmed in—Egypt behind them, the sea before them—and God was about to act in a way only He could. In these moments of stillness and quietness theres so much God is doing; He's telling us to trust in God and God alone for deliverance,, he's telling us to stand still and watch and witness God's power and then he's emphasizing that it's not our battle it's God's battle the instruction to be quiet underlying the idea that the Israelites didn't need to fight God himself would fight against the Egyptians!! In these moments were told to be still
God is the sole deliverer: The battle is His, not ours
2 Chronicles 20:17 17 You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’ ”
17 You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’ ”
This is called Sanctified Stillness When Worship Is the Warfare
When the Spirit of the Lord spoke through Jahaziel, Judah was not called to raise swords—but to raise their faith. “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” This was more than a moment of divine intervention; it was a call to holy surrender.
To be still before God is not passive—it’s profoundly active in the Spirit. Worship rose from consecrated hearts, and praise became the posture of victory. Holiness, in this moment, was their preparation: hearts undistracted, minds renewed, and spirits yielded.
Stillness before God is not silence; it is sanctification. It is the setting apart of self, where faith stands ready, even when the flesh cannot move.
In these moments our, Faith is refined: We learn to relinquish control and watch Him work.
This kind of call often comes when human effort would interfere with divine glory. It’s about watching God’s power unfold, often in miraculous ways. Imagine standing on the edge of the Red Sea… Pharaoh’s army behind, water ahead, and Moses says, “Just stand still.” It sounds like madness. But it’s the beginning of miraculous deliverance.
"Many of us stand on the shore of our own Red Sea this morning—battles, fears, burnout. And God is still saying: 'Stand still and let Me work.'"
In Isaiah 30: 15 For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
15 For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you are not willing.”
“You will be delivered by returning and resting;
your strength will lie in quiet confidence.
But you are not willing.”
16 You say, “No! [2]
Returning and Rest: This speaks to repentance and surrender. The people of Israel were seeking help from Egypt instead of turning back to God. Isaiah calls them to stop relying on worldly alliances and instead rest in God's provision.
Strength Through Trust: The verse flips conventional wisdom. Strength isn’t found in military might or frantic planning—it’s found in spiritual calm and unwavering faith. This echoes Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Holiness isn’t just loud praise—it’s quiet trust. Revival doesn’t begin with noise—it begins with rest. Strength isn’t in the shout—it’s in the surrender.” The world says hustle harder. God says, ‘Come back to Me.’ The world says fight your way through. God says, ‘Rest in Me.’ The world says speak louder. God says, ‘Be quiet and trust.’”
Finally in Mark 4:39 “39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”[3]
Jesus didn’t ask the disciples to swim harder or scream louder. He spoke into the chaos with divine authority. “Silence! Be still!” And the storm surrendered.
The lesson? Stillness isn’t just our response—sometimes, it’s God’s command. When Christ speaks peace, creation obeys. So should our hearts.
This is not the stillness of inactivity—it’s the stillness of victory. It’s the stillness where anxiety bows, warfare ceases, and revival begins. This morning, step out of striving. Step into stillness.
If you’re in crisis—come for deliverance.
If you’re weary from battle—come for victory.
If the noise inside won’t quit—come for peace.
If your soul is fragile—come for strength.
If the storm won't stop—come to the Savior who says, “Peace. Be still.”
You’ve battled, strained, strived—and maybe even felt like the disciples: wondering if Jesus is still in your boat. But this morning the Prince of Peace is not absent. He’s speaking.
“Silence! Be still.”
If there’s a storm in your home…
If your heart is weary from the warfare…
If your faith feels fragile in the wind…
Step forward. Stand still. And see the salvation of the Lord.
“This altar is your Red Sea. It’s your battleground. It’s your storm.
But it’s also your stillness. Your breakthrough.
Come and be still. Come and be saved.”
not to shout louder, but to hear the whisper. Not to do more, but to let God do what only He can.
“This altar is your moment. Your Red Sea. Your storm. Your battleground. And God is ready and willing to speak peace over it all.”
