In the playbook of life, the natural ebb and flow of our existence is usually digestible on a daily basis, difficult at times but nothing earth shattering or so detrimental that we are not unable to get up, brush ourselves off and move forward. Some days are filled with joy, some with disappointment, some with sadness, some excitement, many with the mundane. All with varying degrees of emotion and thought. It’s just that thing we do, It’s life.
However, Somedays, perhaps they are not days, they could be weeks or years marked with something other than the usual. A circumstance, an event, a bad report, loss, something so overwhelming that shakes you to your core. I’m talking about places on your journey where you see no natural way out. Even as a seasoned disciple of the Lord you may see the darkness overwhelming you with no way out in sight. Something so altering that you fear, and despair of hope, you desperately look for the future but can’t seem to find any.
Have you ever found yourself there? In the middle of impossible, the one you did not see coming. You can’t understand why, nor justify how. But none the less you are there.
The Lord is not silent with us during these times, He has given us clear instructions about what we are to do when faced with the impossible. After all, He is the God of the impossible. Jeremiah 32:27 says:
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?
In the II Book of Chronicles Ch. 20 King Jehoshaphat finds himself facing the impossible, in the way of a great multitude of armies that had come to destroy him and all life as he knew it. An alliance had formed among his enemies and they were set to kill. Sound familiar? The enemy can come against us with a league of overwhelming odds. The proverbial deck of cards so stacked against us that we know unless there is divine intervention we will be utterly destroyed.
Jehoshaphat knew what he had to do. As fear gripped his heart he ran to the place where God was. He sought the Lord. He called a fast among the people and prayed, declaring who God was and his utter helplessness in light of the ensuing army and absolute dependence upon God Almighty. God will not turn a deaf hear to the call of his child in need. He sent his spirit to Jahaziel with a Word from the Lord.
V. 15 Thus says the Lord to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
Wow! Most of us would be elated, right? Or would we begin to work out the next step, wringing our hands and wondering how we need to help Him get it done? Thankfully God continued to give them instruction.
II Chronicles 20:17 You will not need to fight in this battle, position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem.
I’ve often read the above verse and focused on the words “stand still” but today I want you to see the word POSITION. Jehoshaphat gave them specific instruction to Believe in the Word they had heard from the Lord, and then he appointed singers, yes, singers, those who would praise the Lord in the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army saying: Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” What was their position? A position of Praise! They did not move from that position.
V. 22) Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
If today you are facing an ensuing army, impossible odds, where you are helpless to do anything, I challenge you to take your position and hold the line! Don’t waver from an attitude of Praise. The activity of your praise calls on the hand of the Almighty and causes Him to intervene. Any assault against you, as a child of God is an assault on the Lord God. Our battles are His. Don’t give up today! Take your position, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord! He has never lost a battle.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father You alone are God, nothing is impossible for you, I am taking my position of Praise and declaring the battle is yours!
SCRIPTURE READING II Chronicles Ch. 20
