Stay Put
After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.”–Matthew 2:13
Recently I was in a rough part of the world leading girls basketball clinics. I traveled by myself to work with some local believers. The word spread about the clinics and soon there was a lot of media coverage, including the national television station. I began to worry, as I did not want the whole country to know I was there. The next day a suicide bomb killed 20 people in the city where I was. Then my picture showed up on the cover of their newspaper for the work I was doing. I received a phone call from staff in the States advising that I get on the next flight out, but first to talk with my hosts and pray. Every part of my flesh screamed, “Go!” Before I went to bed that night I talked with my hosts, then asked the Lord to make it clear whether He wanted me to stay or go.
The next morning I was reading through a devotion. At the top of the page was this portion from Matthew 2:13, in big bold
letters: “Stay there until I tell you.” It talked about “staying put” and finishing a task until He tells us to move. That was clear enough for me! I can honestly say that had I not stayed, I would’ve missed so many blessings.
1. Have you ever acted on something when you should have waited?
2. Are there blessings or lessons you may have missed as a result?
3. When was the last time you asked God whether you should wait or move in a situation?
Extra Reading: Psalms 27:14; 37:7; Isaiah 40:31
Lord, thank You for always being at my side. Help me to stay put even if the circumstances around me are uncomfortable. Amen.