2 Chronicles 20:12, 15-18, 20-21

 

“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

 

“Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. . . . You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” Then [King] Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 

 

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness. . . . Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

This has been a significant passage to me for many years. One personal example stands out. As a young associate pastor, I developed a program for children I was very excited about. I poured energy into it and felt like I was using my ministry gifts. I probably also added in some immature confidence and no doubt a dose of arrogance. A couple of years in, the church brought an outside consultant to evaluate the program. As the inquiries were made, I realized the outcome had already been determined. I was distraught. Full of fear, I worried constantly about what I would do if my “baby” were taken from me. During that time, someone shared this Scripture passage with me and paraphrased its advice, “The battle is not yours, but God’s. Go down and face them. But you will not need to fight. Just see what the LORD does.”

 

After great struggle, I did put the entire process into the hands of God. I worshipped Jesus in trust as my Savior and God. At the final meeting where the report was delivered, I did not mount a vigorous defense. I let happen what would happen. The program got terminated! God did not usher in a great victory for me in the moment. Yet I was at peace—broken-hearted, but deeply peaceful, full of thanks for Christ, for my family, for life. 

 

When I look back now, I see how truly God did not let me down. Yes, my special program got canned. But four months later (four months!), I was serving as senior pastor in a lovely small town where we would live happily for the next thirteen years. With a wider lens, I see how much my ego needed to be consecrated and how my immaturity required that setback. I also see God’s merciful hand moving invisibly once he received the control I released.

 

I hope the takeaways are clear. Name your fear and what’s coming against you. Receive the message from God’s Word: “Do not be afraid.” The battle is not yours but God’s. Go down and face them. See what the LORD does. Then worship the LORD before and after the event with thanks for who he is and all he has done and will do. 

 

This method of offering up to God our dismay over the advancing opposition does not mean every battle goes our way. Also, knowing the battle is God’s, not mine, does not mean I do nothing. Every situation is different, and sometimes there is much that we are called to do. But we don’t rely on our own strength. That’s the key. There is an internal release in calling on the LORD to fight for us. To work through us. To be what we cannot be. 

 

When we release and then later give thanks whatever the outcome, we see over time the beautiful ways God responds. We discover in the depths of trials and conflicts how we can ever rely on the words, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.”