Few chapters in Scripture have impacted me as a lot as 2 Chronicles 20. God has met me, typically via tears, on this passage — a passage that continues to indicate me the right way to reply in disaster. I’ve discovered to throw myself on the Lord in trial, to belief him after I can’t see outcomes, and to worship within the midst of seemingly unattainable conditions. It additionally accommodates considered one of my go-to verses, phrases I whisper all through the day after I really feel helpless and not sure, in want of knowledge and assist.
This passage first got here alive to me after my husband left our household and I didn’t know the place to show. A large number of points have been at my doorstep, and I had no concept how I’d survive the onslaught. And years later, with mounting well being points, I repeatedly turned to this passage after I felt determined. Even now, every time I reread it, I keep in mind God’s faithfulness in trials, which anchors me once more on stable rock.
Embattled and Blessed
The account in 2 Chronicles 20 takes place round 850 BC, after the dominion of Israel is split. Jehoshaphat is king of Judah, a devoted king who fears the Lord. With out warning, the king is advised {that a} huge coalition of his enemies is marching towards him. They’re already shut, leaving little time to arrange.
When Jehoshaphat hears the chilling information, he’s afraid and instantly seeks the Lord. Then he assembles a bunch to hope and quick. He begins his public prayer by proclaiming God’s energy and reminding the folks of how God had delivered their ancestors. Subsequent, Jehoshaphat reminds God of his guarantees to Israel — that if catastrophe ought to come across them and so they cry out to God of their affliction, he would hear and save them. Jehoshaphat ends his prayer by humbly admitting their utter helplessness, trying to God alone for deliverance.
Whereas they’re praying, the Spirit of God falls upon a Levite within the crowd, who says, “Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t be dismayed at this nice horde, for the battle shouldn’t be yours however God’s’” (2 Chronicles 20:15). Then he tells them precisely the place the enemy could be and that the Lord could be with them. After the folks hear the Lord’s reassurance, they worship.
Early the following morning, after exhorting the folks to consider within the Lord, Jehoshaphat appoints a bunch to sing praises to God, saying, “Give due to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures eternally” (verse 21). These folks, who haven’t any weapon however reward, march forward of the military to the battle.
As they’re singing, their enemies annihilate one another. After they see what occurred, Jehoshaphat and all of the folks take their enemies’ valuables and title that place the “Valley of Beracah” — the Valley of Blessing.
What begins with nice worry from an surprising risk ends with better pleasure from an surprising blessing. Drawing from this story, listed below are 5 methods we are able to search blessing in our personal battles after we really feel like a mess of troubles is urgent in.
1. Search God first when you find yourself afraid.
In disaster, our minds are flooded with worry, and we should intentionally disrupt our anxious ideas. Jehoshaphat’s first response was worry, after which he instantly sought the Lord. We don’t should be afraid of the battles which can be in entrance of us, even people who appear insurmountable, as a result of God shall be with us and combat for us.
Don’t flip to Google over God or endlessly play out “What if . . . ?” situations in your head. Earlier than anything, ask God for knowledge, assets, and energy — after which go searching to see how he’s offering.
2. Remind your self of God and his guarantees.
It’s really easy to neglect that we worship the God of the universe — the God who merely speaks a phrase, and worlds come into existence, creating what’s seen out of what was unseen (Hebrews 11:3). Every part is at his disposal. Paging via Scripture, we are able to see how God has labored within the lives of his folks all through the ages. We will additionally look again and see how God has labored in our personal lives — answering our cries, dashing to our support, and comforting us in sorrow.
God has given us extraordinary guarantees in Scripture that we are able to plead again to him, reminding him of what he has pledged. He won’t ever depart or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He’ll deal with all our wants (Philippians 4:19). Nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38–39). All issues will work collectively for our good (Romans 8:28). And he has good plans for our future (Jeremiah 29:11).
Jehoshaphat didn’t presume God would save him from catastrophe, however somewhat that God would save him within the midst of catastrophe. He stated, “If catastrophe comes upon us . . .” (2 Chronicles 20:9), implying that they might belief God of their affliction even when the worst occurred. They might maintain crying out to him, maintain trusting him, assured that he would heal and ship.
3. Hold your eyes on God, not circumstances.
When Jehoshaphat first cried out to God, he ended by saying, “We’re powerless towards this nice horde that’s coming towards us. We have no idea what to do, however our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). That is my go-to prayer in struggling. I acknowledge my powerlessness over the scenario, acknowledging that I’ve no assets, no knowledge, and no hope with out God. All I can do is maintain my eyes on him.
Our half is to inform God our want and to put our wrestle earlier than him. His methods are a lot greater than our methods, and he is aware of what’s greatest. We don’t must know the place assistance will come from apart from that it’s going to come from him. If we maintain our issues somewhat than the presence of God in our issues, we are going to succumb to worry. So don’t give attention to the circumstances round you, the wind and the waves bombarding you, as a result of they don’t seem to be stronger than our God. Nothing is simply too exhausting for him.
4. Worship the place you might be.
Don’t wait until you might be delivered to worship. Jehoshaphat worshiped God earlier than the battle. There was no deliverance, simply the promise of God’s presence and his dedication to combat for them. We who know Christ have the identical reassurance — if God is for us, nobody can stand towards us (Romans 8:31).
Jehoshaphat’s battle plan concerned a choir going earlier than the military, singers thanking God for his eternal love. And so they thanked him not for what he had completed or what he would do, however somewhat for who he’s. God inhabits the praises of his folks; we are able to typically really feel his presence in a singular means after we worship. Even within the midst of trials, we are able to worship via easy acts like singing hymns, studying psalms aloud, or thanking God for his love. For Jehoshaphat, reward preceded the miracle, and the identical is commonly true for us.
5. Do not forget that trials carry us to Christ.
Trials finish in blessing as we search God in them. For the folks of Judah, the blessing was full defeat of their enemies and treasure to hold dwelling. For us in Christ, it should even be the defeat of our enemies. Our actual enemy is Devil, who needs to destroy us by tempting us to doubt God in our wrestle and to consider that he doesn’t care. Nothing might be farther from the reality. God is with you on this trial, and as you cling to him, you’ll obtain extra blessings than you may carry. Simply because the folks of Judah named their place of victory the Valley of Blessing, we can also search for methods God is remodeling our valleys of hassle into locations of surprising goodness, particularly in giving us deeper intimacy with him.
I as soon as thought that the best blessing in trial was deliverance, having my issues disappear and leaving me unscathed. However I’ve discovered that the better blessing in trial is deeper fellowship with Jesus, realizing his peace that surpasses understanding and his love that surpasses data.
I don’t know the place you might be at present, however for those who really feel overwhelmed by what you face, my prayer is that God will meet you as he met Jehoshaphat and has met me. Second Chronicles 20 has turn out to be a metaphor for my life, and after I look again over my trials, I see God’s mercy and beauty written over each second.
