My eyes are on You!

    At some point in time in our lives, we may go through situations where we feel outnumbered and overwhelmed. We may feel as if our back is against the wall and are uncertain of what the final outcome may be. 
This was possibly how king Jehoshaphat felt when a combined army from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, came against his tiny nation of Judah (2 Chronicles 20:1-30). 
    This was the same Jehoshaphat who, like his father, Asa, made great efforts to establish religious reform in Judah. He did all he could to bring his people back to the Lord their God. However, one fateful day, he was told that a large army was coming against him. He became afraid and decided to seek his God and encouraged all of his people to do the same.
    There is nothing wrong with being afraid in challenging situations. It is a normal human response. The problem, however, is who or what we choose to run to when we are afraid. King Jehoshaphat did not think twice; he knew exactly Who to run to in a dire situation like this one. He did not run to his officials seeking advice on what to do; he did not run to his family or friends, he ran straight to God and he encouraged his people to do the same. He was leading by example, letting them know that God was their only hope.
    In times of trouble, who do you run to? When you realise that no one else and nothing else can help, where do you turn? 
    King Jehoshaphat cried out earnestly to God from his heart. Towards the end of his prayer, he said something interesting that God brought to my attention years ago. In verse 12 he says: “…For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do but our eyes are upon You.” The last part of that verse: "… but our eyes are upon You,” shows that at that point, when faced with a problem of gargantuan proportions, they were going to shift their focus. The large army was real, their tiny size in comparison was also real, but their God was even more real and more powerful than it all! They were going to trust in their God that He somehow would come through for them … even when the problem seemed to have already defeated them. They were not going to focus on their expected defeat by this great army but on their God’s expected victory in this situation.
    It truly takes a lot to have faith in the face of obviously challenging circumstances. Defeat may seem inevitable, it may seem like there is no way out, it may seem like things may never change. However, when we turn our focus to God, it means we are giving Him the chance to turn things around, to make the impossible, possible!
    When King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah looked earnestly to their God, he promised to fight for them (vv.15, 17). And fight He did! As they sang and praised their God, He caused their enemies to begin fighting among themselves until every last man was killed (vv.22-24). Judah did not have to lift a finger or a weapon to fight! God did it for them! All they had to do was gather the spoil (v.25).
    It may not always be easy to surrender completely to God and to trust Him but in the end it is worth it. We cannot always determine the outcome of our battles…that’s God’s job. When we put our eyes on Him, whatever He chooses to do and however He chooses to do it, is His choice…not ours. We just have to trust that He will come through for us, that He will bring good out of the evil that was meant for us.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God knows that challenges will come your way, it’s a part of life. What He wants you to do is to trust Him, to turn your eyes to Him with the confidence that He will fight for you, He will take care of you and He will bring you through! So, trust Him!
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