What to do when you feel overwhelmed, Part 2
“He said, ‘Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! 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)
Fear, anxiety, and fatigue had eroded King Jehoshaphat’s faith. He was outnumbered and overwhelmed! He didn’t know what to do or where to turn. As he cried out to God, he called all his people to seek the Lord’s help together. In response, God heard their cry and would restore their faith in a huge way! The Bible tells us in verse 14 that, as they prayed together, the Spirit of the Lord came upon a man who gave them a word from God! He gave them these instructions:
1. Stop fretting, and remember God is for you!
The man of God said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” (Vs. 17b) How easy is it to forget that God is with us? We get overwhelmed by our circumstances, and our faith begins to fade away. That’s why it’s so important to continue daily in God’s Word. Jesus said to those who believed in Him, “If you continue in My Word, then are you My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:31, 32 (KJV)
If we want to be free of anxiety and fear, it’s essential to know the truth. God was reminding King Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah that He was with them! Despite the circumstances they were facing, God had not abandoned them! God is with us! In fact, the Bible also says that God is for us! In Romans 8:31 (NKJV), the Bible says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” When you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember God is for you!
2. Stop fearing and give the battle over to God.
Not only did God assure them of His presence, but He told them, through this man of God, that He would fight for them! In verse 15 he said, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” We get overwhelmed when we fight battles that are not ours to fight! Give it to God! If the battle is the Lord’s, then we can be assured that the victory is ours!
3. Stop fighting and position yourself for a miracle.
If the battle is not ours, then we need to stop fighting. In verse 17, he said, “… you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory.” They were told not to fight, but they had to show up for the battle! This would require faith. When God restores our faith, He gives us opportunity to exercise that faith to see the miracle! Next week, we’ll look at the kind of faith that can stand still in spite of overwhelming circumstances and see the mighty hand of God at work! Faith is only as good as it’s object. If the object of your faith is God, you have all you need for victory!
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.