The current news is filled with newscasts about the unspeakable attack on Israel. Why does God allow such awful things happen to people? If the Israelites are God’s chosen people, why isn’t He helping them? Panic is never the answer to anything. Trust in our LORD is the way to deal with trials. Are you prepared to accept His outcome for your life? That’s where trust comes into play. We may not survive an event God has allowed. Does that mean He doesn’t love or care about us? Not at all. He is accomplishing His will. That is all. Does He care about His people and those who are His through Christ? Of course. However, His will is sovereign. He knows the outcome, and it will be according to His plan. Keep reading for more insight….
Many are involved in daily battles that seem unwinnable. No victory is in sight. Circumstances have not changed. People have not changed. We are stuck in a situation that has no visible resolution. Take heart; there are times when our battles are the Lord’s to fight. Consider what happened to the people of Judah when the nations gathered to fight against them…
“It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court. And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? and they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou have given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then upon Jahaziel the son Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation; and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat, thus saith the Lord unto you, be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:1-15
What did the people do? They came together to fast and to seek the Lord’s help. When your times of trouble seem too much to bear, you need to seek the Lord in prayer, meditation, and Bible reading. We are to fast, focusing on Him alone. It is when we get our focus on Him, and off our situation, that we can see Him begin to work. When we stop looking for our solution, we will be more willing to accept His.
Maybe the work He wants to do begins with your salvation. If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, then He cannot help you. You must believe Jesus is the Son of God and confess your sin, turn from it and ask for His forgiveness.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
The people were not willing to give up until they had heard from Him. They knew they were truly at His mercy.
When we take the time to seek the Lord as Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah did, we will know God’s desire. We will have victory over our trials and troubles. Victory comes in many forms: peace in mind and spirit, joy despite our circumstances, steadfast and resolved, trusting Him in our situation and for its outcome.
*We can remain at peace despite our circumstances. The world would have us believe that our inner peace is dependent on our circumstances. That is a lie. We have peace when we obey God and His Word.
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7
*We can know that we will not be tested beyond our endurance. The world says that we can’t hold out. The world makes us believe that we will have to compromise our beliefs and values to get along. That is a lie.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
*We have help in our times of need, just as the people of Judah and King Jehoshaphat. The world teaches us to be self-reliant because no one will help you. YOU have to help yourself. That is a lie.
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the felling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16
You see the battle is not really centered around your troubles. It is a battle for your heart or character, mind, and spirit. Troubles help us to grow in character and in likeness to our Lord. We see things His way and we act His way. Our focus is on Him, not on our problems or ourselves or others. We can’t change others. This is a tough battle that we fight every time we come under the stresses and troubles of our lives. It is difficult to stay focused on Him and to trust Him for the outcome. We must learn that whatever our situation, He can get us through it. The reason we must fast and pray is to calm our minds and still the panic in our hearts, so we can focus on Him, and trust Him for the outcome, whatever it is. Then we can overcome our fears and live through our trials in a way that is honoring and pleasing to Him. He will fight for us! He intercedes for us before the throne of God.
“Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
“O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”
–Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen H. Lemmel
