The Battle to Be Still: A Different Take on Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is a topic that often circulates in Christian conversations. While it's true that not every hardship stems from direct demonic influence, Scripture clearly shows that sometimes, the challenges we face are indeed spiritual in nature. Job experienced suffering instigated by Satan, and Daniel encountered delays caused by spiritual opposition. These accounts remind us that unseen battles do occur.

Traditionally, when spiritual warfare is mentioned, the response emphasized is one of aggression—binding, casting out, and fighting back. While spiritual authority is real and necessary, there’s another response that Scripture offers—one that seems almost counterintuitive: rest.

In Exodus 14, the Israelites found themselves caught between the Red Sea and the mighty Egyptian army. Their instinctive response was fear and complaint. I can relate—I’ve done the same in the face of overwhelming circumstances that seemed like spiritual attacks against my family and me.

Yet, in that moment of crisis, God gave Moses a peculiar instruction:

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14, NIV)

Why stillness? Why rest when war is at the door?

Because sometimes, the greatest act of spiritual warfare is not fighting, but trusting. Not striving, but surrendering. God wasn't calling the Israelites to inaction out of helplessness but to stillness as an act of faith. He was saying, “This battle isn’t yours. It’s mine.”

Likewise, in our battles, we rest not because we are indifferent, but because we are confident. Confident in the finished work of Christ, who has already won the ultimate victory over sin, death, and darkness.

In the New Testament, Paul urges believers:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2, NIV)

This isn’t spiritual denial—it’s spiritual focus. Instead of obsessing over what the enemy might be doing, we are invited to fix our eyes on who God is and what He has done.

In a world that tells us to always be doing, achieving, and striving—even in spiritual matters—God invites us to trust Him deeply enough to rest. Stillness is not weakness; it’s warfare waged from a place of peace. So the next time you feel under attack, remember: sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is to stop... and be still.

Let God fight for you.