What reassurance...stand firm. You won't have to lift a hand in this battle. Don't be afraid. God is with you.
Three nations have come against Jehoshaphat. A huge force was on its way and they were short on time. Verse 3, Shaken/Afraid he turned to God. He prays before an assembly of people. He asks God...are you really going to let this happen? Are you really going to let them kick us out of the land? And then, in front of all his town's people, Jehoshaphat says...we are helpless, we don't know what to do, we are looking to You.
God sends his spirit to declare in v. 15 "this is God's war, not yours"...stand firm.
Our Pastor preached on Mark 2 last night where the paralytic was healed. And what he chose to focus on was - "Be the Friend". Be the friend that if you can't get through the door to help your brother/sister/friend/neighbor, take it to the roof! In Mark 2:5 Jesus was "impressed by their bold belief."
As I left our WBS last night and walked out with my friend and we shared our going-ons and weariness...she said, "when you feel yourself spinning out of control, come stand by me, let me be the adult. You don't have to say anything just come stand by me and feel safe". And I love her for every ounce of who she is...
This morning at around 3:30 a.m., because that is only second to the shower as to the perfect timing of profound thoughts...God said, come stand by me. Feel safe. Don't be afraid. God is with you.
Like Jehoshaphat, we all experience areas where we feel under attack, and most of the time, we have little notice to prepare. I have said to God several times over the past few weeks...months...are you really going to let this happen? I compare J's concern for his land to our need for a comfort zone...are you really going to shake things up?
And here is the kicker...are we willing to admit we are helpless, afraid, trembling? That we don't know what to do? Not just to God, but to a friend, to an assembly of people? Upon J's plea, God didn't say stay home tomorrow, he said "march boldly". Jesus was impressed by "bold belief". The war is not ours, but that doesn't mean that we get to sit at home in the cushions of complacency. Our obedience to stand firm, march boldly, to seek healing for a friend through roof-top faith allows us to witness full-on the work that God does on our behalf. You want proof? Go stand beside your friend - let your friend stand beside you, march boldly with your people, be willing to have hope that defies logic & gravity.
So having had some heart-to-heart's with God (tear-filled despair & surrender), and sharing with my friend, I bring it before you, my assembly of readers. I pray Faithful Father, that we all stand firm against the battles that seemingly come out of no where and often in multitudes, that we are willing to be bold despite our weariness, for reliance on pillars of strength found in friends and Jesus, to be a safe zone for others, and to go boldly each day and stand in awe of Your Presence. Amen.
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