Held When I Can't Hold On
JACKIE SMITH-BELL
Lee en español
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
I didn’t realize how tightly I was gripping life until I sat on the attic floor, preparing for a move. Dusty boxes surrounded me. In my hands were tiny shoes that once carried little feet, now grown, and the tears came unexpectedly.
It wasn’t just that time had passed. It was the lingering ache of trying to be enough — for my children, yes, but also for everyone and everything.
Some mornings, I woke up bracing for the day. Before my feet touched the floor, my mind raced through conversations, decisions, and responsibilities. Nothing earth-shattering had happened, yet my chest felt tight, like something could go wrong if I didn’t hold it all together.
Maybe you know that feeling … that quiet fear that if one thing slips, everything might.
Somewhere along the way, I began living as if God were holding His breath and waiting to see if I would get it right, as if His love depended on my performance. I carried the weight of outcomes, measuring my faithfulness by how well I could keep things from unraveling.
Then I read the grace-filled words in Exodus 14:14: “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
This was God’s message to the Israelites when they stood trapped by the Red Sea before them and Pharaoh’s army closing in. Dust rose on the horizon. What they feared was close, yet God’s command wasn’t to do more — it was to trust Him. Obedience didn’t look impressive. It looked like standing still while fear pressed in. Stillness wasn’t weakness; it was faith.
“The LORD will fight for you,” He said. Not just “assist.” Not just “advise.” Fight.
God wasn’t asking His people to deny fear but to remember His power to defend them. The One who commands the seas isn’t shaken by armies. The One who had delivered His people before wouldn’t abandon them now.
Whether we’re navigating motherhood, marriage, singleness, health, or aging parents, the pressures in our lives may differ from those in ancient Israel — but the weight and fear are still real. Thankfully, God's promise still holds true.
Stillness isn’t doing nothing; it’s surrendering our grip, releasing what we think we must control, and trusting God to work in ways we can’t. What if some of what we’re holding was never ours to shoulder?
I often slip into believing that if I plan carefully, I can secure the best outcome or avoid what I’m afraid of. But striving has never parted a sea; it only exhausts the soul.
I’m learning to pause, breathe, and place it all before Him. Some days, that looks like nothing more than a whispered prayer for help.
Instead of controlling every detail, we can find true peace by resting in the One who fights for us and wins battles beyond our strength. You and I don’t have to hold it all together. When we can’t, He holds us.
Dear God, thank You for meeting me right where I am. When fear rises, remind my heart there’s no battle too big for You and no burden too heavy for You. Help me to release what I’m holding and to rest in the truth that You are fighting for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
When’s the last time you caught yourself thinking, Wait … I’ve been here before? Not in a funny way — but in that moment when something feels a little too familiar. The same reaction. The same tension. The same outcome you thought you’d moved past. That moment matters more than we realize. It’s often where God is gently getting our attention. That’s why we created a free resource, “An Honest Guide to Getting Unstuck,” to help you recognize what choices and consequences might be repeating and why so you can begin to move forward instead of staying stuck. You can get the free resource today and take that first step.
ENGAGE
If life feels heavy right now, friend, you are not alone. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is stop trying to carry it all and simply surrender it to God. To help encourage your heart in this season, access your free Surrender Guide here.
For more encouragement and biblical Truth on your faith journey, connect with Jackie Smith-Bell through her YouVersion Bible Plan, Shedding Shame for Surrender: Finding Healing in God’s Love, and on Instagram.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (NIV).
Jesus does not shame the weary or turn away from the burdened. He invites us closer. Where in your life are you carrying a weight Jesus never asked you to carry? What would it look like to come to Him with it today instead of pushing through one more day on your own? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
© 2026 by Jackie Smith-Bell. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
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