Red Light, Green Light

Psalm 116:7 Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.

Which is easier for you? Stop or Go? What if you are stopped for too long? What if you go and I have you run all Forrest Gump style? Just keep running and running. We can’t live life in either Red Light or Green Light only.

[Exo 14:13-14 NLT] 13 But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."

[Psa 46:10 NLT] 10 "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."

[2Ch 20:17 NLT] 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"

Sometimes God has to bring us to a screeching halt for our own good. If not, we will either work and run ourselves to death or we will miss what He is trying to do. Sometimes, we have to stop and let God fight our battles.

[Exo 14:15-16 NLT] 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.

But we can’t stay stopped as an idle bystander forever. Eventually, God calls us to participate in His plan. Moses had to STOP and be still at the mouth of the red sea, but then he had to GO and lift the staff and get the people across.

[1Ki 19:3-18 NLT] 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died." 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!" 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." 11 "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." 15 Then the LORD told him, "Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!"

Much like Moses had to stop, be still, then go, Elijah had a season like that, too. He had done the hard work, the harder work, and the hardest work, and he was tired. He was at his breaking point. He couldn’t do it any more. But God did not let him give up. Elijah didn’t need to give up, he needed to rest, refuel, and remember who He was working WITH and FOR. Then, he could go back and finish what God intended for him to finish. Sometimes, we have to recognize the need for a nap, a snack, and a prayer. Then it is time to get up and go, not to give up. God’s not done with us yet.

[Ecc 3:1 NLT] 1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

[Isa 6:8 NLT] 8 Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me."

Lord, give us the discernment to know when it is time to move and when it is time to be still. Thank you for giving us both options when we need them. Thank you for allowing us to partner with you, and thank you for allowing us to stop, rest, and watch you work when we need that too.