I climbed thirty feet up to the top of a telephone pole, now all I had to do was stand. Strapped into a harness that was attached to a rope held by someone on the ground, I had climbed up a ladder and then some staples in the side of the pole to be at this point. Holding on to the top of the pole, I looked out over a valley that made me seem much higher than I would have imagined. My next job? To move my feet from the staples where they were firmly sitting to the top of this twelve inch diameter pole. Piece of cake, right?

Actually, that first step wasn’t so bad. the second step was a bit more tricky. In order to get the second foot up there, I had to let go of the pole with my hands. I know you’re all thinking that should be pretty easy, but holding on was pretty comforting at the time. To stand, I had to let go with my hands, stand up on the foot already planted on the top, and then bring the other foot up right beside – all in one fluid motion. “Fluid motion” being highly subjective. 🙂

Once on top, I still had to keep my balance. As sturdy as those poles look, they actually move quite a bit at thirty feet in the air. I was tied into a harness, so it’s not like I would make a big splatter on the ground if I fell. The harness only allows you to fall a few feet before it catches you, then you’re just swinging in mid air.

STAND. It’s all I had to do.

This year at Planting Roots our theme has been STRONGER STILL. Focusing on 1 Chronicles 16:8-43, we have looked at the prayer of David just after the Israelites brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. It was a time of celebration. In the prayer, David walked them through four pieces. The same four pieces we have walked through this year.

WORSHIP. SEEK. REMEMBER. STAND.

The STAND piece is where we are today.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.” ³⁷ David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister there regularly, according to each day’s requirements. ³⁸ He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers. ³⁹ David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon ⁴⁰ to present burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the Lord, which he had given Israel. ⁴¹ With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “for his love endures forever.” ⁴² Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate. ⁴³ Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family. (1 Chronicles 16:36-43)

I know you’re all wondering where STAND came from that passage.

After the prayer ends and all the people say “Amen” and “Praise the Lord,” David started assigning jobs. Some he left there to minister at the Ark, some he sent to Gibeon, some he designated to give thanks or play instruments and some he sent home. They each had a place, a place they were planted in order to do what God had called or designed for them to do. They went to STAND in the place they were planted.

God calls us to do the same thing.

When David sent them all to those places, it did not mean that there would not be challenge and strife. They would surely experience such things down the road, because it’s a part of life–for them and for us.

They were simply called to be obedient in the place where they were.

Just like standing on the telephone pole, sometimes we encounter hard and difficult places in which we are asked to STAND. We also encounter places that are much easier to do so. But regardless of circumstance or location, God calls us to be obedient to Him, His Word, and His truth in the place where we are.

He calls us to STAND.

For the rest of the year here at Planting Roots, we will be talking about just that. God calls us to STAND in some crazy places, but He doesn’t ask us to stand alone. Just like on the top of that pole, I was strapped in a harness and attached to a rope. If I fell it would catch me, but it would also give me stability while on top of the pole. God does those things too. He too wraps His arms around us and holds us stable even when the ground below us seems to be moving. Plus, He catches us if we fall.

For the record, I was actually able to stand on that wobbly pole. I will tell you, my heart was beating a million miles a minute, but the view was amazing. I repeated the same event multiple times, and can I tell you? It got easier every time. God grows us as we go. He remains faithful.

Where has God asked you to STAND today? What are some places and times in which He asked you to STAND?

Kori Yates loves adventure. Her former life as a Marine and ongoing stint as an Army wife has given her just that. Desiring to bring together Christian military women and impact a globe for Christ, she has helped launch Planting Roots. Through events, online Bible study, and a social media community, their prayer is for revival among military women. Kori is also an author (Olive Drab Pom-Poms) and speaker, as well as a homeschooling mom of two amazing kids and wife to one awesome Soldier.