Good morning,
When is a good person in the most danger? One of the genuinely good kings in Judah, King Jehoshaphat, was trying his best to encourage the people in his kingdom to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. He hadn’t always done everything perfectly, but he really wanted to follow the guidelines that the Lord had given them. Things seemed to be going well when, without warning, a huge army made up of nearby nations decided to come and destroy Jerusalem and the weak army that defended their nation. The king was terrified and ordered all the people in the kingdom to come to Jerusalem. The people all fasted and the king prayed a deeply sincere prayer that ended with, 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." (v. 12) The king’s goodness had left him feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed by the impossibility of the challenge they were facing. He was overwhelmed because he had felt that it was up to him and them to do something about defending their weak little country. Suddenly one of the men standing there shouted out, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2Chro.20:15)
A good person or a controlling person is in the most danger when they try to take responsibility or control of circumstances that God has put together to fulfill his own plans. None of us is in control of God’s master plan. God is always doing things in us and around us that have a clear purpose in carrying out his perfect plan that is totally connected to eternity. When we think that the battle we are facing is ours to control, we will always find ourselves overcome by fear, not comforted by our trust in our all knowing and all powerful God. Our Heavenly Father is the one who is doing what will carry out his will and bring glory to His Name. It’s for us to trust and obey the God who never makes a mistake. The Apostle Peter certainly understood this when he wrote, So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.(1 Peter 4:19) Our loving Father longs for us to trust him and his plans so that he can use our willing hearts and minds and bodies to be a concrete part of showing the world around us that the God of the Bible is the God we all can trust no matter what happens in us or around us. Thank you Lord, that you are always with us and will never fail us. We love you Lord!!
2 Chronicles 20:15 He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Roy Wisner
