Strategic Surrender: It’s Where Warriors Are Forged

If your life’s too loud to hear God’s whisper, then it’s too loud to lead your family.

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God’s Promise for Today

Psalm 62:5 – “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” (ESV)

The other night, my 21-year-old son did something that caught me off guard. He built a fire. No reason. No party. No big plans. He just wanted to build a fire. He ran out, grabbed some ‘s’mores stuff,’ and we sat around the flames like we used to when he was little.

And man, in the middle of the laughter, there was this still moment. Nobody talked. We just sat there. You could hear the wood crackling and feel the warmth on our face. That silence? That’s the kind of silence where your soul wakes up.

Men—when was the last time you sat still long enough to hear from God?

Let’s be honest. Most of us are constantly surrounded by noise. Work, sports, bills, news, the chaos of raising kids—our lives are loud. And too often, we let that noise drown out the one voice that actually matters: God’s.

And here’s the real gut check—how are you supposed to lead your family if you’re not hearing from the One who leads you?

The fire in your heart for Jesus doesn’t burn in the chaos—it burns in the quiet. But you have to stop moving long enough to feel the heat.

I’ve learned this the hard way. When my life gets busy, I push through. I get things done. But I also dry up. That burning desire to be in God’s presence? It dims. And I start to lead from my own strength—until I hit a wall.

That’s when I have to sit still and be reminded: It’s not about me—it’s Christ in me.

Remember how God worked with Noah? He built a boat for 120 years before the first drop of rain. You think that was loud? No way. That was obedience in the quiet. Day after day. No applause. Just faith.

Look at Abraham. Years went by before God gave him the promised son. Between the call and the blessing—silence. Waiting.

Moses? He spent 40 years in the desert tending sheep before God spoke from the burning bush. That wasn’t wasted time. That was preparation.

And maybe the most powerful silence in all of Scripture? The 400 years between the last words of the Old Testament in Malachi and the first words of the New Testament. Four centuries of no prophets, no miracles, no movement—just silence. And then came Jesus.

God works wonders while we wait in silence.

We hate silence because it feels like nothing is happening. But that’s where the real work gets done. That’s where our hearts soften. That’s where God prepares us for battle.

Psalm 46:10 says it best: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (ESV)
Stillness isn’t weakness—it’s strategic surrender. It’s letting God take the lead.

Joshua knew that. When they marched around Jericho, God told the men to stay silent until the final shout. Can you imagine the restraint? That was discipline. That was obedience. And that’s what brought the walls down.

You want the walls in your life to fall? Try shutting your mouth and opening your ears to God.

In Habakkuk 2:20, it says, “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silent before him.” (ESV)
That kind of silence is reverence. It’s us realizing we’re not in control.

And sometimes, silence is the answer to the storm. In Mark 4:39, Jesus didn’t yell at the wind—He spoke a few words and brought total calm: “Peace! Be still!” (ESV)

When we sit in silence, we aren’t doing nothing. We’re doing the one thing that matters most—abiding in Jesus. Staying close. Letting the fire burn.

Here’s what I know: when I make space for silence, I start to hear the gentle whisper again. Not always loud. Not always clear. But it’s real. And it changes me. That’s when I remember Nehemiah 8:10—“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (ESV)

Men, this world needs strong men—but not the kind that shout louder. We need men who burn for Jesus in the silence. Men who are steady, grounded, and not afraid to be still. That’s the kind of strength your wife needs. That’s the kind of leadership your kids will follow.

Don’t confuse movement with progress. Don’t confuse noise with power. Sometimes, the loudest thing you can do as a man is to sit still before the Lord.

So here’s my challenge: Light a fire. Literally or not, make space for stillness. Let the silence sharpen your edge. Let the whisper of God remind you of who you are—and Whose you are.

And when the world tries to pull you into its noise, don’t bite. Stand your ground. Stay quiet. Stay strong. And keep the fire burning.

Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value

Stillness — A quiet heart tuned to God brings boldness to lead with strength and peace.

Three Practical Reflection Questions

1. When was the last time you truly sat in silence and listened for God? What would it take to carve out 15 minutes this week to do that?
2. In what areas of life are you letting noise—whether busyness, distractions, or stress—drown out God’s voice?
3. Read Psalm 46:10. What does “be still” look like for you this season, and how can that stillness help you lead your family more like Jesus?

Bible References (ESV)

• Psalm 62:5 – “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
• Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”
• Habakkuk 2:20 – “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silent before him.”
• Joshua 6:10 – “But Joshua commanded the people, ‘You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.’”
• Mark 4:39 – “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
• Ezekiel 16:63 – “that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God.”
• Nehemiah 8:10 – “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Short Prayer

Father, teach me to be still before You. Let the fire in my heart burn bright in the silence, so I can lead my family with strength that comes from You alone.
I choose Your whisper over the world’s noise.
With a burning desire, in Jesus name I pray – Amen.

These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus.

If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.

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