I imagine all experience this. Anticipation of a huge moment, either of joy, of pain, or of testing, triggers the “fight or flight” response – even when there’s no one, and nothing, to fight. Many athletes may experience this before a contest, or during “crunch time.” Students may experience this before a final exam, after endless study leaves them yet feeling unprepared. Speakers may feel this as they listen to another introduce them before a keynote address.
The feeling is not restricted to athletes, academics, or public speakers. A new job, a wedding day, or planning a large family gathering can bring this feeling to anyone.
It is at those times, when people feel either so invincible or so inadequate that they cannot be still, that they must, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalms 46:10 KJV)
Men and women often lay the groundwork that leads to a great moment…which they then wish to tear down (fight) or from which they wish to run (flight). The approaching moment brings increasing anticipation, and heavy pressure to do SOMETHING. The natural thing is to move; the reasonable course of action is to change position, the overwhelming temptation is to RUN. However, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)
God desires a man flee nothing, apart from fornication. It may surprise some that God wants men and women to feel and bear the pressure of the moment; not that they would be crushed, but that they might have greater confidence in Him. It also creates a greater awareness of one’s own limitations. Not the limits of their comfort, but the true limits of their faith and trust in God. However, to learn those limits, people must be compelled to face them.
When Israel departed Egyptian bondage, God positioned His people so they could neither fight nor flee the Egyptian chariots and army:
Exodus 14:10-12 KJV And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. (11) And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? (12) Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
The pressure that triggers the “fight or flight” response restricts vision and distorts perception:
-
• A blessed man, unemployed for months, can lose sight of how he and his family yet remain in their home and still share meals, so great is his anxiety over the lack of income,
• A single parent frets over the safety of children he must leave alone so he might work. How does he forget the retired neighbor who reports to him daily on his offspring’s welfare and antics while he was away?
• The collegian that fails every test in a class and dreads her final grade. How is she blinded to the countless extra credit assignments she completed that guarantees she will pass?
In each of these examples, God’s way of escape helped no one run, but enabled them to bear more pressure, Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13 KJV)
Israel’s pressure, however, differed from that of unemployment, babysitting, or passing a class; it was life and death. Caught between the enemy and the sea, Israel may have wanted to fight, but a nation humbled by 4 centuries of slavery and lacking weapons knew they were no match for Pharaoh. And, with an army before them and the sea behind, there was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.
That pressure caused Israel to lose sight of this:
Exodus 14:19-20 KJV And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: (20) And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
How anyone can forget God’s accompanying pillar of cloud, I do not know. Nevertheless, this is what allowed Israel to bear the pressure of an approaching army, while the Lord spent all night drying a path through the sea.
1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
The “fight or flight” reflex is a fear response. Often, folks under pressure lose their vision and perspective as fear compromises what faith they have. Not only did God record ensamples of those who gave into fear with great cause, yet needlessly, He spoke to the greatest fear of those under pressure – that they are alone:
Genesis 26:24 KJV And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 43:5 KJV Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west
Jeremiah 1:8 KJV Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:19 KJV And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Even the removal of the Old Testament did not remove God’s presence:
Matthew 1:23 KJV Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 28:20 KJV Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
God is never on the way when His child is under pressure – He is already there, Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (Psalms 91:14-15 KJV)
Consider this, So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19 KJV)
It is the enemy that comes, not God; the Spirit of the Lord simply responds, for he was already, and is always, there. The fact that people struggle to see God’s presence neither minimizes nor negates it.
2 Kings 6:15-17 KJV And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? (16) And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. (17) And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
If, in the moment of his greatest trouble, at the time when he feels most pressured – if a man would run from that moment, he is not running toward God, but running away. God is in the moment. God is in the trouble. God is with him. And God is with you.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth, (Psalms 46:10 KJV) especially if you don’t run from your moments.
God Bless You All.
Copyright 2012. blackmanthinkin.com
Not logged in