Learning to Walk by Faith in the Valley of Overwhelmed, Part 2
“This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”
2 Chronicles 20:15-17 (NLT)
What do you do when you are overwhelmed by circumstances beyond your control? How do you handle impossible situations? If you’re not facing them now, hold on because I’m sure you will at some point. It’s only a matter of time. Thankfully, God has not left us wondering about what to do. His Word gives us practical counsel that will move us from the Valley of Overwhelmed to the Valley of Blessing! He uses a King in the Old Testament to show us how we can take similar steps of faith that make a world of difference. As we studied this passage yesterday, we saw how God taught this King to stop fretting and remember that He was with him. In verse 17, God says, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” Knowing that God is with you changes everything! With the confidence of God’s presence, the King could step out in faith.
This was the case for a young man in the Old Testament who was overwhelmed and outnumbered by the forces coming against him and the prophet he served. His story is found in 2 Kings 6:16-17. When the young servant went outside, he saw an army of horses and chariots ready to attack them. He cried out to the prophet in fear! I love the way the Message paraphrases the prophet’s response: He said, “‘Don’t worry about it – there are more on our side than on their side.’ Then Elisha (the prophet) prayed, ‘O God, open his eyes and let him see.’ The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!”
When you’re feeling overwhelmed and outnumbered, ask God to open your eyes to see the wonder of His presence! The greatest miracle is not God’s presents, but rather God’s presence! Remember, God is with you, and that changes everything! You and God are a majority! It’s not what you do for God but what He does in and through you that makes a difference as He grows your faith. Here’s a great promise to memorize that has helped me in Acts 2:25-26; 28 (NLT), “I see that the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts His praises! My body rests in hope … You have shown me the way of life, and You will fill me with the joy of Your presence.”
In addition to the presence of God we have the fellowship of the church, the family of God. You are not alone. God is with you, and God’s people are with you. If you have not yet found a church home in your journey of faith, I want to personally invite you to consider Woodlands Church. Our Membership Class is this Sunday following the 11:30 am service. You can register now to join us for the class either in person or online. A free lunch is provided for all those coming in person. Your children in 6th grade and older are encouraged to attend, and programs for 5th grade and younger are available as well. Learning to walk by faith means connecting with other Christ followers in a local church family.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.