“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15
When King Jehosaphat heard that the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Menuites had declared war on him and were already on the march, he was terrified. Who wouldn’t be, right?
It’s worth noting the honesty of Scripture. It says the king was terrified. He didn’t put on a brave face, nor ready the chariots, sharpen the weapons, and organize his troops. In the face of overwhelming fear, he immediately turned to the Lord. Verses 3 and 4 tell us that he begged the Lord for guidance, then ordered everyone in Judah to fast and pray.
God never looks down on our emotions. He doesn’t tell us to ‘buck up’ or ‘dry those tears.’ He created us emotional beings. He gave us the capacity to cry, to feel anger or angst. What is crucial is what we do with those feelings. Do we turn to God when we are overwhelmed? Do we consult Him and ask for guidance first, or do we post it all over social media? Do we pick up the phone and call everyone we know, or do we pray? I’m not saying we have to keep it between ourselves and God. Just yesterday, I texted my fellow prayer warriors (women I trust, who won’t go around gossiping about my problems but take them to the Lord in prayer) before I went for a medical consult. Because life is hard, we need to surround ourselves with trusted friends, women or men who will take our battles straight to the Lord.
God’s answer to Jehosaphat’s fear is simply stunning: “Do not be afraid! (God repeats that command over 400 times throughout the Old and New Testament – one for every day, plus a little bit more for those days we forget). Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours but God’s…you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory.” (verses 17-18).
How often I forget that the battle is not mine to fight! I get all knotted up inside, looking for answers to my situation rather than turning my battle straight over to my heavenly Father. How much pain and heartache I could have spared myself simply by standing still in His presence and watching Him win the victory.
Prayer: Lord, take all of my fear, all of my worries, all of my sorrow. I thank you for those trusted friends who support me through my trials, but most of all I thank you for fighting my battles. Help me to stand still before you, turning over to you every foe, every battle I might face. Amen.
Thought: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear/What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer/Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear/All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” Joseph M. Scriven
Discover more from Author Renee Vajko Srch
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