JourneyOnline

The Choice

“For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
– 2 Chronicles 20:12, New International Version

Jehoshaphat was a Godly king, faithful and strong, God’s man of the hour to lead the people of Judah – and he was desperate.

Judah was at risk. Three kingdoms by land and one by sea were headed their way intent to wipe them off the map. It fell to him to lead his people through this crisis. Positive thinking wasn’t going to get them out of this fix. Looking for good in the situation wasn’t going to help if there wasn’t good to be seen. So what did he do?

Life wasn’t magically wonderful. It was hard work.

He stood on a rock, spoke to his people and called a fast. He didn’t have a clue what to do, but he knew where to turn, “We are looking to You for help.” On the cusp of destruction, Jehoshaphat took comfort in the character of God. He couldn’t trust his circumstances, but he could trust Him. He would pray and whatever came he would rest confident in God’s love for him and his people.

The people, led by their king, began to pray.

They laid it all out before God. ALL of it. Then they waited for an answer.

I made a choice as I sat weeping on the floor that day surrounded by my packages of pain and shame. My Bible in hand, I “happened” across a verse of scripture I didn’t recall having read before.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
– Deuteronomy 30:19

I chose life. I stopped going one direction and went another.

Life wasn’t magically wonderful. It was hard work. But I chose to begin unwrapping the packages of pain, one at a time. Like Jehoshaphat, I came before God and with honest desperation said, “I don’t know what to do but my eyes are on you. Show me.”

I didn’t have the strength to fight my battle anymore. I prayed, and then I waited for an answer. And just like He spoke to Jehoshaphat, God began to speak to me in my heart:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
– 2 Chronicles 20:15

You’re faced with a choice.

Give in to the desire to give up. Or give it to God, get up and trust Him for help, for hope, for healing. How will you choose?

“I don’t know what to do, God. I choose today to look to You for help. ‘Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.'”
– Psalm 71:3

Next Lesson