Go and face them

Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you. 2 Chronicles 20: 15, 17

If you’re anything like me, when trials and temptations come, I often try to handle them on my own. My mind swirls with thoughts of how I can fix the situation or the persons involved. I strategize plans that I feel will lead to the best possible outcomes if only people would cooperate and do their part. I also feel the frustration at my own shortcomings and failures.

One of the greatest blessings I’m receiving as I’m learning to pray scripture is the heart change that is happening within me. I’m learning to let go of the reigns and trust that God’s got this. I’m learning that part of the reason for the trials and temptations is for me to learn to focus on God instead of the issues and to discover in the waiting that He is right there with me offering me the gift of His presence.

Today’s passage was such a beautiful gift of peace. The many trials and temptations that we face can indeed feel like a vast army. Sometimes it feels like they are coming at us from all angles, all the time, all at once and it can be overwhelming.

But God is telling us that we don’t need to fight this battle. We don’t have to fix it or figure it out and we definitely cannot do this in our own strength. He gives us a better battle plan. This is – His battle and He will fight for us. Our part is to take up the position of prayer; standing firm on His Word and watch the deliverance He will give us.

But today when I read this message He opened my eyes to one more detail. His Word tells us to go out to face them tomorrow. Very clearly I understood that the battles will always be there, Jesus told us that we would face trouble in this life, but He did it so that we would have peace knowing that He has already overcome. It’s because of Him and knowing that He fights for us and that He will overcome, that we can go out and face it tomorrow and the next day and the next. Until that day when war is won and our Lord and Savior has made all things new.

So as you go out today and face the giants in your life, do it with the knowledge that you have covered it in prayer and that Our God will command victory in His perfect timing. And in the waiting, take in the peace that can only be experienced in His never ending presence.