Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Waiting. Hoping. Listening.

"Tomorrow go down against them."

The Israelites, about one million strong, were up against an enemy army numbering close to three million. Three million! Can you imagine the fear? The probability of defeat? Under the leadership of King Jehoshaphat, the children of God sought the Lord, His guidance, and courage. They worshiped Him.

Then a great hush came upon the people as they stood before the Lord. Waiting. Hoping. Listening.

In the holiness of the moment, the Lord said, 

"Do not be afraid 

nor be dismayed because of this great multitude, 

for the battle is not yours, but God's. 

Tomorrow go down against them." 

~ 2 Chronicles 20: 15b-16a.

Did you catch that? The Lord told His children to not be afraid - don't worry. He would be with them and would fight the battle for them, but..."tomorrow go down there against them."

Huh? God said the battle is His, but His people still had to go through the adversity. Really?

Yes, really.

When adversity pounds at the door, and our hearts pound in our chest, heaven is ripe with the anticipation of glory. I'm learning that God delights in showing His glory - His power and might - to His children. Adversity, trials, and struggles draw us to the Father, causing us to cling to Him.

Adversity opens our eyes to see and behold the One who loves us.

The children of Israel rose early the next morning. As they set out into the wilderness to face their foes, Jehoshaphat exhorted them to "Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established."

Believe. 'aman (ah-mahn). Our familiar term, amen, comes from this Hebrew word. Amen means "it is solidly, firmly, surely true and verified and established." Well, now. 

The children of God had spent time in worship declaring the goodness of God, followed by quiet  listening for directives from the Lord. They sought the Lord in the face of grave adversity and the God of their Fathers responded. They went into battle knowing He was with them. They went into battle seeing the evidence of His presence all about them. Because of the adversity, the Israelites learned to believe in the power and the faithfulness and the mercy of God.

In my times of adversity I'm learning to see the evidence that God is with me, fighting my battles, giving me courage. Do I enjoy the trials? No. But consider the reward. The Lord told Abraham that He was Abraham's exceedingly great reward. The Lord is our great reward, also. Imagine that.

Adversity opens our eyes to see and behold the One who loves us.
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Tweetables to Encourage Others

When adversity pounds at the door, & our hearts pound in our chest, heaven is ripe with the anticipation of glory. (Click to Tweet)

God said the battle is His, but His people still had to go through the adversity. (Click to Tweet)

Adversity opens our eyes to see and behold the One who loves us. (Click to Tweet)
 



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