When facing difficult situations, it’s easy to become distracted because of the things going on around us. Distractions can become so overwhelming at times that we forget the God who brought us thus far. So, instead of looking up, we set our focus on our situations; forgetting the Covenant God made with His children. When King Jehoshaphat was told that a vast army was planning to come against him, the Scriptures read in 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord…”
King Jehoshaphat became alarmed because he knew that they were unable to defeat these enemies alone... but he resolved to inquire of the Lord and proclaim a fast. They were in a tough situation and knew they needed help, but the king prayed and recalled the sovereignty of their God. He stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord, and said, “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?...” He then ended by saying, “…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.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)
God’s response to the king and all the assembly through Jahaziel was, “…Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…’” The lives of thousands were at stake, but the king and inhabitants of Judah fixed their eyes on God and begin to worship Him amid their circumstances. The word then came, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you… Do not fear or be dismayed… for the Lord is with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:17
If you are not careful, the storms of life will cause you to take your eyes off your heavenly Father, the source of your existence; the one who can bring you out. Even in times when your situations seem insurmountable, look to God to bring you through.
After receiving the word from God, the king and all the people bowed down and worshipped Him for the victory as if they had already won the battle. Sometimes your praise and worship are the most powerful weapons you have in warfare, and they will be tested. But can you praise Him amidst your battles? Can you allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength right there in the middle of your storms? When you go to war with praise and worship, you are telling God “I trust You; it’s in Your hands.” It was during worship that God set an ambush against their enemies, and every one of them fell that day.
God has made you an overcomer, so stop saying you’re tired of struggling and going through, and begin to fight, expecting total victory every single time. Sometimes the struggle is simply you not trusting God or positioning yourself by standing still so you can see His intervention. To master your storms, you must learn to trust Him and control your thoughts and feelings. Take time to worship Him, praise Him, magnify His holy name, and celebrate His goodness right where you are, in the midst of all the chaos and distractions. Give Him glory for the victory right now, and trust that He is faithful and will bring you through.
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