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Strength in Stillness
- Pastor Daniel Krebs
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
Happy Monday to our CFC Family;
Recently, I observed a hawk sitting silently in a tree while two smaller birds frantically darted around its head, desperately trying to drive it away. At times, they flew so close it seemed as though they might have actually brush against him, yet despite of all the annoyance, the hawk remained completely still, unmoved and unbothered by their chaotic display.
Now, why the smaller birds were so disturbed by his presence I’m not entirely sure, but as I observed this behavior, I couldn’t help but sense the incredible restraint and power under control that this hawk was displaying. He didn’t chase them, he didn’t flinch, and he didn’t even try to prove his dominance! Why? Because he didn’t need to. He knew exactly who he was. He understood his strength and had nothing to prove to the frantic birds that surrounded him. His stillness wasn’t weakness; it was quiet authority. He wasn’t threatened by their noise because he didn’t see them as a threat at all.
Watching this unfold reminded me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:39:
“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”
At first glance, this verse can be unsettling—almost as if Jesus is calling us to remain passive in the face of abuse or injustice. It’s easy to mistake His words as an endorsement of weakness or silence when wronged. But what Jesus is actually calling us to is something far deeper—and far more demanding. He isn’t asking for mere quiet passivity; He’s calling us to a courageous restraint, a disciplined refusal to retaliate, and a powerful strength that chooses peace over vengeance.
Like the hawk, we don’t have to fight every provocation. Yet, it’s often the insecure, immature Christians who feel the need to lash out, prove themselves, or defend their pride when the “little annoying birds” of life attack. Truth is, it is reactions like this that reveal a forgotten identity and a lack of understanding of who they are in Christ.
When we truly know we are secure in Him—loved, seen, and covered in his grace, we can let those small attacks pass by without stealing our peace. We don’t need to react to every offense, comment at every accusation, or respond to every attack, because we know God’s got this. Just like the hawk, our strength isn’t in our reaction—it’s in our restraint, grounded in the confidence that we belong to the One who defends us.
As Proverbs 3:26 reminds us:
“For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.”
That’s the kind of peace and power we’re invited to walk in! Not because of who we are in ourselves, but because of who we are in Him.
Truth is, you don’t need to prove your worth to the world—your identity is secure in Christ. Stay still, stay strong, and let God handle the noise.
Have a blessed week and we’ll see you Sunday!
Pastor Dan
Christian Fellowship Church
417 Hanover Street
Steinbach, MB R5G 0G0
Church office: 204-326-2228
