The Battle Belongs to the Lord
“… This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” -2 Chronicles 20:15
We can’t face the day and fight the same battles any longer—we’re worn out, and there are too many enemies, too much meanness to take on. We’re tired of fighting the same emotional war. What is there to do?
In this unusual passage, God orders the people not to try to fight the battle themselves but to go out and face the enemy. They are to station themselves, act like they will fight, and then just be spectators of God’s fireworks. This battle is entirely the Lord’s.
Often in the Old Testament, God commanded his people to go out, pick up their swords, and fight against their many enemies with the secure knowledge that he would be with them, guaranteeing their victory. He would cause them to win while they did nothing. It was a case of being put in a position of extreme trust. In a case like this, you must ensure your guidance is accurate.
We can be thankful that God is our faithful, trustworthy Guide. There are moments in our life of faith when he wants us to set aside our weapons, tools, skills, wisdom, and energy and to lean on him. He wants us to learn that we can trust him without any reservations. On some occasions, there’s no other way to know this other than letting him do everything when we can do nothing.
Do you feel that you can’t do a single thing—not one single, solitary thing—to fix the problem you’re facing? For many, such challenges are more than a one-time experience. Maybe today has been so intense, overwhelming, and disorienting that God needs to step in and preserve and rescue you.
If that’s the seriousness of what you’ve been going through, then know that God has a plan and reason for your pain. When troubles like this come our way, it is to move you and me up the ladder to the next rung of trust. With every graduation to the next level of faith, God helps us to the next victorious faith level.
Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, the price he paid to bring us to a place of light, joy, and hope, we can trust God for his deliverance at the right time, God’s time. Thank God the battle is his, and the favorable result is ours.
Prayer:
Oh God, Lord of the battle, I can’t fight this one. The opposition is too strong, I’m so tired, and the struggle is way beyond me. Thank you for fighting this battle for me as I rest in your mercy and grace and look forward to the unfolding of your good plan for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
-Photo by Tereza Hošková on Unsplash