I’m a get it done sort of person. I don’t like inaction. If it’s broke, fix it. If it can be better, improve it. That said, it’s interesting that in recent months, I’ve been encountering situations that seem broken or in need of improvement and for a variety of reasons my only recourse has been inaction. Frustrating, anxiety-inducing inaction.
But then. The Bible study that Karl and I are doing together, coupled with my own personal reading of Psalms and of Mark and several long, searching conversations with someone I respect deeply, have begun teaching me a new perspective.
Consider Jesus’ lack of action as He stood in front of Pilate. He didn’t call down angels, He didn’t explain that all of creation was, in fact, His doing. Nope. He stood. When Pilate asked Jesus if he was king of the Jews, Jesus answered “You have said so.” Pilate wasn’t satisfied. He asked again. Mark 15:5 says “But Jesus still made no reply.” Was this weakness? Was this shirking? For someone like me it could seem so. Why didn’t He act? Oh. The result of His silence and seeming inactivity was my salvation. Your salvation. A crucifixion and resurrection that covers the sins of the world.
Yikes. Here’s the lesson: sometimes, inaction isn’t the same as complacency. Sometimes, sitting back and waiting for a situation to play out without my help isn’t weakness or shirking. Sometimes keeping my mouth shut and my hands still is what is required. Sometimes choosing to wait and be patient is the right course of action.
This is a hard lesson for me. One that demands that I put my trust in God’s sovereignty. One that requires me to trust in Him not me.
