Promises for Fears

By Karlyn M.

What are you afraid of this morning?

What is the deepest, most gut-wrenching thing you're looking at? The thing you're convinced you won't make it through? The road you're terrified to start down? The situation you think the Lord will not involve Himself with...

King Jehoshaphat was looking at a "great multitude" that was coming to wage war against the Israelites. They were close, and it looked like the slaughter of God's people was imminent.

The king appealed to God with a very courageous and humble prayer, but in the end, all he could say was, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." God, there is nothing left that I can think of. I have no plans. I have no idea how to conquer this. I can only look to You.

Which is always the right response. The point is this: 2 Chronicles 20 says Jehoshaphat was afraid and without any idea of how he was going to survive this great crisis.

What about you? What is causing you the most fear?

Listen to what God told the king, and hear what God says now to those who love Him:

"Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at [this great horde], for the battle is not yours but God's."

Now YOU fill in the blank.

Are you afraid of your crumbling marriage? Afraid to forgive your spouse ("He'll just do it again! He always does!" [Psssttt... Yes, he will. He's a sinner. And guess what?... So will you. Why else would Jesus say "70 times 7?])

Afraid your child will never trust the Lord for salvation? Afraid of the choices you're starting to see him make?

Afraid you'll never have victory over that secret sin that no one knows about except you and God? And it's eating you up because you continue to fall and it's destroying your communion with the Lord? And you think His mercy and forgiveness has ended and you are lost?

What are you afraid of this morning?

God says: "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at (IT!), for the battle is not yours but God's." (2 Chron. 20:15) And also: "I have chosen you and not cast you off; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa. 41:10)

Do as Jehoshaphat did: go immediately, continuously, to the One Who does not want you to fear; tell Him you can't do anything (because you can't); and look to Him only. In Him alone is your victory in what you're fearing most. Obey what He's commanded you to do, and then rest as He conquers.

Originally posted on Karlyn's blog, A Journey of Joy.