2 Chronicles 20:15
He said: 'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah
and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or
discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.'
One of my challenges as a mom is to act brave in front of my kids. I’d probably be Pixar’s last-considered Merida-alternate,
if not for my hair, hahaha :> My heart stops at dogs, I jump high with mice,
and I hide fast from cockroaches. Add to that my uneasiness around electric
wires, tech-y gadgets, and carrying cash above P1,000. I’d rather lock myself
in or cry trying. Both in resolute stubbornness.
But I wouldn’t want that with my kids – especially not my boy. And so I held my
breath for as long as I can while walking past our neighbors dogs; I made it
look like some fun time when we’re chasing cockroaches or mice with our brooms
(so they’d think my once-in-a-while hiding was part of the game); and, I pray
under my breath whenever I had to dare the rest of my fears so they won’t have
to. Because they don’t have to.
Imagine three vast armies marching towards your land, ready to
destroy everything and everyone you hold dear, and you’d be terrified as
Jehoshaphat. Add to that his context of God’s wrath on him when he sided with
the pagan Ahab prior this chapter. Such disabling fear would have defeated him
even before the war started. But seeing all the men of Judah, with their wives
and children and little ones around, he couldn’t succumb to doing just nothing.
His hands were probably still trembling and his knees shaking when he called
all Judah to a fast. He didn’t act brave
nor tried to cheer them up for he had none to give. In mercy and faithfulness,
God came upon the Levite Jahaziel with these words: ‘Do not be afraid or
discouraged’. T’was the same instruction
Moses passed on to Joshua; same wisdom David taught Solomon.; and, the same
order Hezekiah gave to his men. In all four occasions, that line was preceded
with ‘be strong and courageous’, and concluded with ‘because God is with us’.
And that gave them victory – even before the war started.
‘Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord
will give you’. God told Jehoshaphat to march down against the vast army - not
to passively wait for His salvation. For as much as God intended to deliver
them from those outside their gates, He also wanted them victorious against
their battles within. As leaders and parents, that’s our feet taking the first
step. And it’s okay to admit we’re scared too. Courage is not the absence of
fear, but the triumph over it – in the context of faith. I have to tell you
that walking past those dogs has been a faith journey for me and my kids. I
think they know by now that I’m as scared as they are. But I tell them, and
myself, repeatedly that Jesus will protect us, and we’ve been rejoicing at end of
that stretch for the longest time. Your fears may be a thousand times serious-er than mine, but God
has the same words for you: ‘Go out to face them.. and the Lord will be
with you!’
No comments:
Post a Comment