I love how God’s Word can bring such peace in the midst of great battles. I’m not sure what battles you are facing today….family issues, conflict, brokenness, abuse, finances, betrayal, addiction, insecurities, or anxiety, but I do know who is our source of help in the midst of the overwhelming battles.
I remember many years ago seeing a painting of a bird’s nest high up in a tree with a mother bird covering her baby bird while a storm was raging all around them. In the place where the nest was, there was absolute peace and stillness, in the midst of the turbulent storm all around them.
In the midst of the battles you are facing, do you feel God’s peace?
Are you aware of God’s presence?
Where is your focus – on God or the storm?
In 2 Chronicles 20 we find the prayer that Jehoshaphat prays when he is informed of the multitudes who were coming to destroy Judah. These are the words the king prays in versus 6-12:
“O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’
“And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”
Here are a few things we can take from this prayer and apply to our own lives when we are facing battles that seem unsurmountable:
1. Focus on who God is, His power and might! Mention the greatness of who God is! We serve a mighty God and we need to magnify who He is in our thoughts and words, which transforms our mind from defeat to hope.
2. Remind God of the victories He has done in your life! For one, we need to remind ourselves of how God has worked in our lives in the past. Hopelessness tries to tell us that we are helpless in our circumstances, but when we focus on the victories God has done in our lives it boosts our spirits. God also tells us to remind Him of what He has done and of His promises. As the king talked with God through prayer, He was petitioning Him, standing in the gap for Judah, God’s people and reminding God of all His promises. What are the promises God has given you? What are the victories He has already done? Remind God and yourself of all He has already done on your behalf.
3. Go to prayer first. When we are facing great difficulties the first place we need to go is into the presence of God. Going to prayer, honoring God in the midst of our prayer, and crying out to God for help first before going to others. As we do this, God will bring us the answer and direction we are needing.
4. Look to God for help. God is our help in times of trouble. As we bring the battles, storms, famine or difficulties we are facing to Jesus, He will help us. We need to wait on God for His help and not try to fix our situations ourselves. Us fixers need to wait on God’s timing for His answers. I know this is hard for many of us, but when we do this, God will bring the help we need.
As you look for your peace today in the midst of great trials, storms or difficulties, instead of focusing on the circumstances or people involved in your storm, do as Jehoshaphat did when multitudes arose against him and Judah. As we do this, God’s presence will envelop us and fill us with the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.
Be encouraged my friend <3
Blessings,
