DOING SOMETHING BY NOT DOING ANYTHING

Life often presents us with situations where we feel compelled to act, to fix, and to intervene. We want to do something. We believe we can do something. Yet, there are moments when our actions only deepen the complexity of the mess we are in, especially in relationships. The more we do, the messier it becomes. And so, I am learning to do something by not doing anything - by being still and waiting upon God.

It is not easy. People seek me out for help, expecting solutions and advice. But sometimes, all I can do is listen and pray. It might frustrate them, but I have learned that waiting on God often brings more clarity than any immediate response I could offer.

I visit my friend in the nursing home from time to time. He has been in a vegetative state for the past five years - alive yet not alive. I do not know what I can do for him or his family. I visit, read Psalm 23, sing him a familiar song, and pray. I repeat these simple acts every time I see him. He remains unchanged, lying on the hospital bed. His family no longer visits, unable to bear the sorrow. I wrestled with whether to tell them about my visits but decided against it, fearing that it might only reopen their wounds. I wanted to do something, yet in the end, I simply waited and be present. Did my actions matter? I do not know.

I have encountered many struggling with mental health issues. I longed to help, to offer words of encouragement, to share the of Gospel of Christ. But over time, I realized that my well-meaning words to share the Good News often became just another set of good advice - words that felt like clichés, sometimes pushing people further away. I thought I was doing something helpful, but I was only adding to their burden. So, I stopped speaking so much and started listening more. I prayed and waited for God to move in their lives instead of trying to force a change myself.

Waiting is not passive. It is an act of trust. It is an acknowledgment that God is working in ways we cannot see. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is to step back, and trust that God is moving even when everything seems stagnant. He calls us to be faithful, to show up, to pray, and to believe that He will act in His perfect timing with hope.

When we are stuck, when our efforts seem fruitless, when the weight of helping others feels too heavy - that is the time I learn how to step back and rely on God completely. Doing something by not doing anything, to be still, to wait, and to trust.

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

His Missional Disciple,

Pastor Forest