Face it...

    Over the years, I have realized something interesting about myself. If I sense my family is in danger, I make a bold effort to address it. For example, if I awake during the night to any strange sound, instead of awaking my husband to go see what is happening, I get up and boldly go to find out what the problem is myself. I used to think I would be afraid, but I have come to realise that once I feel that my family might be in danger, boldness takes the place of fear and I make the effort to deal with it myself. It may not seem wise, especially if there really is any real danger. But, I have come to realise, that a sense of protectiveness comes over me and I choose to face the problem rather than run from it.
    This reminds me of the story I have been writing about for the past couple of weeks (2 Chronicles 20:1-30). When God told king Jehoshaphat and his people to position themselves, stand still and see how He would deliver them from their enemies, He also told them in that same verse 17: “Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
    I love to look at words and how they are used. Believe it or not, the word “against” came to my attention. When I looked it up, one of the synonyms in the Strong’s Concordance jumped out at me - “face.” In other words, God was telling them to face their enemies, face the problem. He did not want them to run from it. Remember, their “problem” was not a small one. In fact, this combined army that had come against them was huge enough to cause them to want to run from them in the first place. Their problem was much bigger than they were and they knew that in themselves there was no way they could defeat them.
    That may sound familiar to many of us. There are challenges that come our way that are way bigger than what we can handle on our own. In fact, even if we were to enlist help, we still would not be able to handle it. Some challenges are like that. I remember acknowledging a few years ago that the challenge I was facing was so much bigger than me that only God could deliver me from it. No, I did not want to have to face it. No, I did not want to have to go through it but I had to acknowledge that God and God alone would be able to get me through. 
    We may never have the luxury to run from some battles. So, our only recourse is to face them, as ugly and as terrifying as they might be. But, here is the thing: God did not just tell king Jehoshaphat and his people to go out against their enemies. He gave them some comforting words: “Do not fear or be dismayed … for the Lord is with you.” All of that in one verse! God did not expect them to face the problem alone, He would be right there with them. 
    We are never alone. I have said this many times. God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. The problem is, the situation may feel so terrifying, we may feel as if He is not there, as if we have to battle all by ourselves. But, we don’t! Everything God instructed the Jews to do, it was with the assurance that they would not have to do it alone. God’s assurance to us today is that we will not have to do our battles alone. He wants us to face the battle, not run from it because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. 
    When king Jehoshaphat and his people reached the place where they could look out over their enemies, all they saw was dead bodies (v.24). God had defeated this vast army for them. He did not send them to face their problem but to see what He had already done for them. We may not always see the evidence of what God has already done and is doing for us, but we can confidently stand on His promise that the battle belongs to Him. And, if it belongs to Him, then He has already won it. In short, He will make a way, He will see us through.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God did not create us to face battles on our own. He is more than willing and able to intervene on our behalf. He will not leave us to face our challenges alone, but is always there to help us in our time of need.

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