Lessons in Stillness … From a Camel? - Encouragement for Today - November 21, 2025
Lessons in Stillness … From a Camel?
AMANDA VOHS
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“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (NIV)
As a working mom in the human rights field, I often feel the pressure to be and do more. The weight of injustice and the desire to make a meaningful impact can feel overwhelming. This is especially true in the fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery, where the work is heavy, holy, and impossible to accomplish in our own strength.
Recently in Kenya with International Justice Mission (IJM), I heard Mwanaidi’s story. She was a vibrant 13-year-old whose neighbor began offering her snacks on her way home from school. At first, the gestures seemed innocent … but they weren’t.
Eventually, the man betrayed her trust and abused her. He threatened that if she told anyone, he would hurt her and her family. Terrified, she stopped going to school to avoid him.
When the truth came out, Mwanaidi’s family reported the crime despite pressure from the perpetrator’s family. The man who assaulted her received 12 years in prison.
IJM supported Mwanaidi in her healing, and today, she plans to study dressmaking and start a wedding dress business. Not defined by her past, she dreams of her future.
Mwanaidi’s story ends with justice. But cases like these often take months or years, requiring us to press forward with endurance even when things feel hopeless. Those are the moments when the burden is far too heavy for anyone to carry on their own.
But we were never meant to.
Micah 6:8 offers a welcome reminder of what God requires from us: “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly” with Him. Nothing more.
For a long time, I struggled to understand how to apply this verse to my life. Then a colleague shared an image that has stayed with me: the image of a camel.
For centuries, traders have relied on camels to carry heavy loads over long distances. Each morning, the camel bows before its master to receive its load. It then stands strong and carries what it’s been given. At day’s end, it bows again before its master to unload the goods so it can rest.
The camel carries only what its master gives — no more, no less — and leaves everything at its master’s feet each evening.
This is where the practice of stillness comes in.
For me, that looks like getting up early before my children wake, grabbing my coffee (prepped the night before!), settling in by the fireplace, and spending time with Jesus. This practice of orienting my days, and therefore my life, around drawing near to Christ has allowed God to work within me and transform the woman I am becoming.
The practice of stillness is a life-saving grace. We shut out the noise and listen to God remind us that He goes before us. As we reflect, we can discern between the work that is ours to carry and the burdens we can humbly give to God to carry.
You can try it right now. Wherever you are, pause. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. And reflect on the following prayer:
Lord, help me walk humbly with You, trusting that I am Your beloved. Teach me to release the burdens I was never meant to carry alone and to find strength in Your presence to carry Christ’s light to the darkest corners of our world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Dive into stillness with the free resource Stillness: A Daily Guide to Prayer, created by the team at International Justice Mission. This four-week devotional is an offering from the very heart of IJM. It is an invitation to pause daily for conversation with your God.
ENGAGE
Are you looking for meaningful gift ideas for your holiday shopping? This Christmas season, give gifts that bring freedom. Shop IJM’s Holiday Gift Catalog and give hope, healing, and justice to those in need.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (NIV).
What is a burden you have been carrying alone that you need to lay at Jesus’ feet today?
When in your daily rhythm could you carve out intentional time to sit with Jesus in stillness? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
© 2025 by Amanda Vohs. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
