HOLD STILL
Jan 9 12:44 AM

HOLD STILL

Jan 9 12:44 AM
Jan 9 12:44 AM

“…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:13 NKJV

Patient rooms in doctors’ offices have always made me uneasy. The harsh, sterile lights beam down from the ceiling, reflecting off the stark white paper stretched over the patient’s chair. The walls are lined with brochures, each displaying conditions from diabetes to the flu. Then there’s that red biohazard box mounted on the wall—a container for used syringes that always catches my attention.

Sitting in one of those rooms, my mind wandered. I imagined the stories behind each discarded syringe, wondering what they had been used for. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. “May I come in?” a voice called out. I took a deep breath and reluctantly answered, “Yes.”

The door opened, and in he walked. His presence was warm, instantly making the room feel less daunting. Seeing my nervousness, he smiled gently and said, “There’s nothing to fear. This will be over soon.”

Knowing what was coming—a shot—made me stiffen. “Relax your arm,” he instructed. I took a deep breath, trying to loosen up, but the moment I felt the syringe near my skin, I instinctively shifted in discomfort. His eyes met mine, calm but firm, as he said, “Hold still.”

The prick of the needle stung, but he stayed present, engaging with me the entire time. “This will be over soon,” he reassured me.

That word “soon” felt relative. A minute passed, then an hour. An hour turned into days, weeks, and months. This wasn’t a regular shot, and this wasn’t a regular doctor. This doctor knew everything about me. During a routine check-up, ‘He’ had diagnosed my heart and decided it was time to inject more of the Holy Spirit into me.

HOLDING STILL THROUGH THE PROCESS

His instruction to “hold still” was critical. If I moved—even slightly—I would only hurt myself. By submitting to His procedure, the fruit of His Spirit would flow into my life: His action-driven love, His chaos-proof peace, His indestructible long-suffering. But I had to resist the urge to rush through the process, to leave the patient room prematurely, unprepared for what lay ahead.

In Philippians 2:13, Paul soberingly reminds us that it is God who works within our hearts, not us. Our job is to submit and surrender to His process. A few verses before this statement, Paul exhorts the recipients of his letter to obey God and work out their salvation with fear and trembling. We let God work in us, and we work out our salvation by obeying His Word diligently and swiftly. This doesn’t mean earning our salvation but responding to God’s work with reverence and obedience. When we do, we remain in the healthy posture of surrender, demonstrating our utmost reverence for Lord.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE

Friends, this is the safest place to be.  In the posture of submission, we experience the fullness of God’s power, peace, and provision. This is where His purposes for our lives come to fruition. Yet, all of these promises hinge on our ability to do one thing: hold still.

  • As the Lord produces more of Himself in you…
  • As He injects the fruit of His Spirit into your character…
  • As He prepares you to thrive exceedingly, abundantly above all you could ask or think…

Remember to hold still. Even when the process feels endless or painful, trust His timing and His purpose. It will be over soon, and the outcome will be worth it all.

PRAYER

Lord, it is not always easy to submit to Your ways, but I know they are higher than mine. Through the power of Your Spirit, help me to fully surrender to the work You are doing in me. Even when the process is painful, I rejoice in knowing that You are conforming me to the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Strengthen me to remain still and trust You completely. Keep me near the cross, where I see the ultimate example of surrender. I love You, Lord, and I trust You with all of me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAILY SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE

Take a moment to pause and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what He is working to produce in you this season. Is it patience? A servant’s heart? Greater wisdom? Write these areas down, and prayerfully consider how God may be using your current circumstances to grow you.

Reflect on Philippians 2:13 and pray for strength to remain still in His process. Finally, seek opportunities to actively practice the qualities He is cultivating in you, knowing that He is working all things for your good and His glory.

view previous