Stand Still and Consider

 

The Silence That Leads You to The Saviour

Job 37:14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Job's Invitation to Spiritual
Contemplation

"Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." This profound exhortation—spoken from the whirlwind itself calls us to interrupt the noise of complaint, justification, and desperate questioning, and instead to stand still.

“Stand still”

To stand still is to surrender the frantic need to have an immediate answer. There are moments when faith does not begin with doing more, speaking more, or figuring everything out. It begins with becoming still before God.

Stillness creates space for you to remember that God is working even when you cannot see the end. You may see confusion; God sees the whole story. You may see the present moment; God sees the beginning and the end. You may feel surrounded by unanswered questions, yet the absence of an answer is not the absence of God.

When you stop moving, you stop trying to escape. You stop trying to fix. You stop performing. In that stillness, you are finally present enough to see. The constant motion of fear, anger, and self-justification no longer obscures the view. Standing still is the posture of humility the acknowledgment that your way is not working, and that you must become quiet enough to receive something beyond yourself.

The Work of Consider

To consider is to turn your full mind and heart toward something. It is not mere glancing observation; it is deliberate, sustained attention. You are invited to contemplate the wondrous works of God not the comfortable, expected parts, but the entire tapestry of the actions of Jesus Christ: creation's majesty, providence's mystery, judgment's severity, grace's inexplicability.

Consider the snow and rain that feed the earth. Consider the eagle's nest and the doe in labor. Consider the leviathan and the hawk. In Job's context, these are not gentle nature scenes they are reminders of a reality vaster and more complex than human suffering. When you consider God's works honestly, you encounter something that resists easy explanation. You are confronted with a God who is neither bound by your logic nor indifferent to your pain.

So when you are tempted to believe that everything depends upon your strength, stand still and consider.

Consider Christ.

Consider the cross.

Consider the empty tomb.

The Truth Found in Silence

But here is what I must say to you now...

Sometimes the stillness feels terrifying, because in silence, you might finally hear the truth that all your striving to justify yourself, to earn your way, to prove your worth has left you exhausted and alone. So stop now. Stand still before the Jesus Christ who knows every fracture in your heart.

And as you quiet yourself, consider this: the greatest work of God the one that transcends all creation, all providence, all the bewildering mysteries of your suffering is salvation itself. He is not distant. He is not theoretical. He is the divine answer written in blood and resurrection.

Jesus Christ entered your condition. He bore the weight of every failure, every shame, every ache that has bent your back. Through the death of Jesus Christ brutally real, scandalously human  Jesus Christ absorbed the full cost of your brokenness.  And then, in the resurrection, He split reality open. He declared that death has no final word, that suffering need not have the last say, that you broken as you are can be remade.

This is not a rescue that avoids your pain or explains it away. This is redemption that enters the pain, transforms it, and opens a door to a restoration you cannot yet fully imagine. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is God's ultimate work, His masterpiece of love, His final and sufficient answer to the human condition.

So stand still. Consider. And know this: you are not required to understand everything to receive everything. Salvation is your restoration, your reconciliation, your rebirth is God's work, not yours. It is offered to you now, in this very moment, by a God who loves you not because you have earned it, but because you are infinitely worth dying for.

Trading Your Weakness for His Strength

The Only Amour That Gives You Strength 

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Complete Protection

The Holy Ghost exhortation in Ephesians 6:11 is fundamentally about spiritual resilience. The word "armour" means complete protection not partial defense, not selective coverage, but the whole armour. This redundancy is deliberate. Paul, is not suggesting that believers pick and choose their spiritual weapons; he is commanding total, comprehensive preparation.

The Purpose: To Stand

Here is where the Holy Ghost focus becomes crystalline: the goal is not aggression but stance, a position to stand. Steadfastness even while under assault. The foes are described as numerous, powerful, and subtle; without God’s armour, standing is impossible. “To stand” means holding one’s ground, refusing to be driven back, and maintaining position despite pressure, deception, and attack; you do not surrender your position. This is not merely defensive survival but resilient stability: the believer remains fixed in truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation even when the enemy presses hard.

Satan’s Tactics

Satan does not always attack with obvious force. He works through deception, temptation, discouragement, distortion of truth, and psychological warfare. His tactics are subtle, sophisticated, and tailored to each individual. He knows your vulnerabilities. He knows where you are weakest.

The devils' wiles include:

• Deception about God's character—making Him seem harsh, distant, or uncaring
• Temptation to compromise—"Just this once won't matter"
• Discouragement—suggesting that your faith is insufficient, your prayers go unanswered
• Isolation—pulling you away from community and accountability
• Distortion of Scripture—twisting God's Word to justify sin

So when the darkness presses in, stand. When temptation calls your name, stand. When Satan reminds you of your past, stand. When fear tells you to run, stand. Not because you are adequate, but because your Saviour is sufficient.

Your Need For A Saviour

And if you have never truly been saved, if you have never been born again do not presume that you can face the enemy without Christ. You need Jesus. You need the salvation that only He can give. Come to Him in faith. Trust Him, not yourself as the only sufficient Saviour.

Because when the devil's wiles come against you, the ultimate question will not be how strong you are.

If you're reading this and you've never truly accepted the free gift of salvation  let me speak directly to you: you cannot stand. You are not equipped. The armor Paul describes is not available to you not because God is withholding it, but because you have not entered into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. You may feel strong. You may feel like you can handle life's spiritual attacks on your own. But you cannot. The moment a real crisis hits, the moment real spiritual darkness presses in, you will discover that you have been naked.

The Rebirth That Equips You

But here's what God is offering you right now: transformation. Rebirth. A complete exchange of your futile independence for His infinite strength. When you genuinely repent from your unbelief and believe that Jesus died for you, was buried for you, rose again, and now offers you His righteousness, something miraculous happens. You are born again. You become a child of the Most High God. And at that moment, all of the armour of God becomes yours.

Looking Beyond the Final Storm

On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful eye 

to Canaan's fair and happy land, where my possessions lie. 

Refrain:

I am bound for the promised land, I am bound for the promised land; 

oh, who will come and go with me? I am bound for the promised land. 

O'er all those wide extended plains shines one eternal day; 

there God the Son forever reigns, and scatters night away. 

By Samuel Stennett 1787

Canaan’s Fair and Happy Land: The Believer’s Symbolic Inheritance

In Samuel Stennett’s classic 1787 hymn, the imagery of standing on "Jordan's stormy banks" draws directly from the Old Testament narrative of Israel poised at the edge of the Promised Land.  For the Christian, this river has long symbolised the boundary between this present life and eternity with God.  Canaan represents not mere escape, but arrival; not the absence of something, but the presence of everything the redeemed heart has longed for. The "wishful eye" cast across its waters is not born of uncertainty, but of longing, a holy yearning for that which God has promised to those who have accepted is free and perfect gift of salvation.

“Fair and happy land” depicts beauty, peace, and gladness beyond anything this life can give, a place made fair not by human effort but by God’s presence. It is described as "fair" and "happy" to provide a stark contrast to the jagged, stormy reality of the riverbank. This land is not merely a place of comfort, but a place of restoration. When the writer claims that their "possessions lie" there, they are asserting that their true identity, their true wealth, and their true home are not found in the material world, but in a Godly inheritance that cannot be stolen or decayed.

Eternal Day and the Reign of God the Son

The second verse expands this vision into cosmic scope. "O'er all those wide extended plains shines one eternal day”, here is a kingdom beyond the cycles of darkness and light that govern earthly time. This is not the sun's temporary brightness but perpetual illumination, suggesting clarity, truth, and the unobstructed presence of holiness. Night that ancient symbol of sin, ignorance, and death has no dominion here. The darkness that clouds human understanding, that fills hearts with fear and doubt, finds no purchase in Canaan's kingdom.

And who reigns over this radiant landscape? "God the Son forever reigns, and scatters night away." Christ Himself is the King of kings and Lord of Lords of this realm, the eternal ruler who has conquered death and sin, who actively and continually drives away the shadows that plague the earthly soul. His reign is not distant or abstract but intimate and redemptive, “scattering" darkness as a shepherd scatters wolves.

“O’er all those wide extended plains shines one eternal day” presents Canaan as a place of unending light. There is no shadow, no fading joy, no approaching night. The picture is of everlasting life under the brightness of the glory of Jesus Christ.

• Eternal Light:  “shines one eternal day.” The darkness of sin, grief, and spiritual confusion is permanently dissipated. 
• Unbroken Reign: It is a realm where “God the Son forever reigns.” Christ is not merely an distant king, but the active presence who “scatters night away,” 
• True and Enduring Possessions: The world offers fleeting treasures that rust and decay, but in Canaan lie your true possessions, an “inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”

Look Where You Are Standing

The question the hymn poses to you is not rhetorical: Who will go with you? But understand: you need not go alone. Jesus Christ has already crossed that river. He has tasted death itself, that ultimate storm, and emerged on the other side alive and glorified. He stands now in Canaan's eternal light, extended His nail-pierced hand, calling to you.

Salvation is not something you earn or deserve; it is an inheritance Christ offers to you. All the restlessness in your heart, all the longing you cannot quite name. The Christian journey is simply this: believing that Christ's sacrifice: his death, burial and resurrection has opened the way, and that all you need to do is receive it by faith.

A Warning To Beware Of The Fall

The Caution! 

1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Your Confidence Might Be The Problem

The Holy Ghost of God, provides a clear warning, cautioning against spiritual presumption. It follows a review of Book of Exodus, where an entire generation experienced God's deliverance, provision, and covenant blessings, yet many perished because they turned to idolatry, lust, unbelief, and rebellion. The lesson is that outward blessings, past experiences, or present confidence do not guarantee a faithful end. Confidence in oneself is precisely where danger begins.

Spiritual ruin rarely begins with an open rejection of God; it begins with your own self-assurance. The heart that is consumed with the cares of this world, no longer fears God, or the terror of the Lord. The Scriptures consistently call you to humility, vigilance and obedience rather than presumption.

From Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation, the consistent message is clear:

• Privilege does not guarantee perseverance.
• Knowledge does not guarantee obedience.
• Religious activity does not guarantee faithfulness.
• A strong beginning does not guarantee a faithful end.
• Confidence must always be joined with humility.
• Faith must continue in steadfast endurance.

“Stand” vs. “take heed”

• “He that thinketh he standeth”: the danger is not only falling, but assuming you will not.
• “Take heed”: the remedy is vigilance—attention, humility, and watchful dependence rather than complacency.
• “Lest he fall”: the outcome is framed as serious and near enough to matter now.

The Spiritual Mechanics

The phrase focuses heavily on the word "thinketh." The danger isn't simply standing; it is the illusion of self-sufficiency.

• Self-Deception: When you believe your spiritual standing is entirely secure due to your own knowledge, past victories, or righteousness, you stop looking at the path.
• The Blindspot: Pride naturally blinds a person to temptation. The moment you believe you are immune to a specific sin or failure is the exact moment you leave the door unguarded.

Faithfulness Requires Vigilance

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" is a call to continual humility and vigilance. It teaches that spiritual privilege does not guarantee a faithful finish, that pride is the doorway to ruin, and that believers must continue in faith, obedience, and dependence upon God. Across the King James Bible, the consistent message is that faithfulness matters, self-confidence is dangerous, and steadfastness is maintained through trusting the Lord and his word rather than confidence in yourself.

The Flaw In Your Logic

You may stand today, but your standing is never sustained by yesterday's profession, yesterday's victory, or confidence in your own strength. Every step you continue to take in faith is a gift of God's grace, and every warning He gives is an act of His mercy. Do not mistake present stability for an unchangeable guarantee. Keep your eyes upon Christ, your heart humble before Him, and your hands firmly upon His promises.  You are not eternally secure because of your own resolve, but because of Christ’s faithfulness. 

An Invitation to Fellowship from the Lord Your Saviour

The Lord’s Invitation

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

He Who Stands At The Door And Knocks

Jesus positions Himself as the active seeker in this passage, and this is profoundly significant. The Lord of lords, the King of creation, the One before whom every knee shall bow; He stands at your door. There is no coercion here, no forceful intrusion. Instead, there is the posture of humility and respect. He who holds all things together in the palm of His hand adopts the stance of one who seeks permission to enter. This reverses every expectation we might have about the Lord’s power and authority.

The act of knocking is intimate and personal. A knock is not a distant command shouted from afar; it is a gesture made at close proximity, requiring the resident to acknowledge the visitor's presence. Jesus does not announce His arrival through cosmic declarations; He comes to your specific door, in your specific moment, with your specific circumstances, and He knocks. The repetition of this action throughout history and in individual lives demonstrates His persistent, patient pursuit. He does not knock once and then abandon you to your solitude.

Standing and Knocking

• The Persistence: The "knock" is not a fleeting moment but a continuous pursuit. It is the rhythmic sound of a Creator seeking you.
• The Voice: Notice that the knock is accompanied by a "voice." He is not an anonymous force or a cold influence; He is a Person. He speaks to the specific "man" or woman behind the door, calling them by name.

The Invitation

I will come in to him. Jesus promises entry: not a distant fellowship from outside, but intimacy within the room of the soul. To come in is to share the interior life—to sit in the quiet places where memory and desire dwell. His entrance is restorative. It brings light into darkness, courage into fear, peace into turmoil. In coming he brings himself—his compassion, his truth, his redeeming touch—so that what was private and closed becomes a place of grace.

The promise that follows is profound: if we hear His voice and respond by opening the door, He will come in and “sup” with us. This idea of sharing a meal is steeped in biblical traditions, symbolizing unity, acceptance, and deep fellowship. It signifies an experience where we can commune intimately with Him, exchanging our burdens for His peace, and receiving His wisdom in return.

The Lord Awaits Your Answer

This passage, is an image of relational rescue: the Lord who honors your freedom, calls with relentless tenderness, waits with respectful patience, enters to heal and to dwell, and sits down to a life-giving, reciprocal communion. It is an invitation that respects your choice yet refuses to relent in love.

Now hear this as if Jesus himself were speaking directly to you: He stands at your door and knocks—will you open and welcome the fellowship he longs to share with you?

Sinking Yet Secure On The Solid Rock

The Crisis of Sinking

Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

When darkness veils his lovely face,

I rest on his unchanging grace;

in every high and stormy gale,

my anchor holds within the veil

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

Between the Wave and the Veil

The experience of sinking is rarely a sudden plunge; it is a transition from confidence to chaos. When the storms of life rise unexpectedly—when the wind grows fierce and the waters of life churn beneath you, when fear grips your heart. In that moment of recognition, when we feel ourselves beginning to sink, there is a terrible clarity: you cannot save yourself. The Apostle Peter knew this truth in his desperation upon the sea, crying out in his drowning moment, "Lord, save me." His was not a prayer of calm serene resignation but of urgent need, the prayer of one whose feet and strength had failed.

In the first passage, we witness the anatomy of a collapse. Peter is not undone by the water itself, but by the boisterous wind. His sinking begins in the eyes:

• The Distraction: He stopped looking at the Goal and started measuring the Gale.
• The Weight: Fear acts as a secondary gravity. The moment he became "afraid," the buoyancy of his faith vanished.

This sinking is not unique to ancient disciples. It is the human condition itself; the moment when all your efforts prove insufficient, when the boisterous winds of circumstance and despair overwhelm the soul

The Counterweight of Grace

The second passage provides the internal scaffolding for the external storm. It shifts the focus from the "boisterous wind" to the "unchanging grace."

• The Veil: Sometimes, the storm is so thick that Christ’s "lovely face" is obscured. Sinking feels inevitable when you cannot see your rescuer.
• The Hidden Security: While Peter’s feet found no purchase on the moving water, the hymn reminds us of an anchor that "holds within the veil." This is the irony of faith: when you feel most adrift, you are actually tethered to something immovable.

Now, even as the waters threaten to overwhelm, remember—Jesus Christ is your refuge. He hears your cry, He reaches for your trembling hand, and He will not let you go. Trust Him, for in Him your sinking finds salvation, and in Him, the storm itself becomes a passage to unshakable faith.

The Unshakeable Anchor

Your anchor holds within the veil, fastened not to what you can see but to what you can trust. When darkness obscures His lovely face and you cannot feel His presence, the anchor remains. When you cry "Lord, save me" and hear only the roar of the tempest, the anchor holds. This is the paradox of faith: that you are saved not by sight but by trust in the word of God, not by understanding the storm but by trusting the One who calms it.

Sinking is not just an experience of despair; it is an opportunity to cry to the Lord for help.  It is in that very moment where the Lord proves to you and where you prove to yourself that Jesus Christ is your solid Rock.