When crisis hits, it is hard to know what to do when we don't know what to do. Sometimes we lack the experience or expertise to handle the battle we are facing. If this crisis concerns our hurting or lost loved ones, it can really throw us into a state of panic and confusion.
We learned in 2 Chronicle 20 that the enemies of Judah had formed a vast army to attack them. King Jehoshaphat feared for his people and declared that they all would collectively fast and pray. He remembered the faithfulness to his people and encouraged them to look to God for their deliverance.
Remember God's Faithfulness
As the people came together to pray and seek the Lord, their faith grew. While they could not see a way out of their terrifying ordeal, they could see their God and how great he was.
“and said: “ LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’” 2 Chronicles 20:6-9 NIV
In these verses, they prayed back to God everything He had done to faithfully deliver them in the past and with words of faith said to him in verse 9, "you will hear us and save us."
Admit Our Own Inability. Acknowledge God's Ability
As we continue to read, we see God's people as they cried out to their Lord pleading,
"we do not know what to do but our eyes are upon you." verse 12
There appeared to be no way out, yet the people prayed and fasted, then stood and waited, always remembering the faithfulness of their faithful God. At the place where their circumstances were the worst, at the time of their greatest vulnerability, as they humbly acknowledged their own inability, in faith they boldly announced God's ability. This is where God's spirit came in and spoke these words of comfort and reassurance.
"Do not be afraid...for the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:15
Do Not Be Afraid. Trust God To Fight The Battle For You.
Do not be afraid! How I wish I could have let go of fear in those terrifying moments of wondering if my sons would survive their addiction. How much I longed for faith to rise up in me and calm my racing heart and still my trembling hands. Instead, I stayed awake at night, watching and waiting and pleading with God to save them, as the enemy screamed in my ears to stop praying because this stronghold was too big and its clutches too deep, and all my hope was in vain.
But this is when the Lord does his finest work, when we have no answers and stand powerless before his presence with our eyes locked on Him and Him only. When we let go, we do not give up on our children and loved ones. But we do let go of any false sense of control we have over them. We acknowledge that through this struggle we are up against a foe too big and too powerful for us to touch. But we keep our eyes on the One who holds all the Power of the universe in his hands. He is mighty to save.
What do we do when we don't know what to do? Stay In Faith.
Our mighty Lord reminds us that this is his battle to fight. When we don't know what to do, we stand together and pray and keep our eyes on him. We remind ourselves and him of his faithfulness to us in the past and we stand in faith. We have each other to encourage in the faith. We are not in this battle alone. Do not be afraid. Standing and believing with you.
Dear Protector of our hearts,
We come to you afraid to move and yet afraid to do nothing. We don’t know what to do at times. We are afraid to make the wrong choice. Yet, we know you will take care of us. You will give us wisdom. You will make us courageous. We believe you are more than able to bring us through this battle victoriously. Our eyes are on you.
Amen
Beautiful Blessings, Dawn
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