When Fear Strikes – CPR for a Believer

2 Chronicles 20:3-5
Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court. 

Life sure does have ways of overwhelming us.

As the world closely watches the events unfolding in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with its far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond the Middle East, there is deep concern and fear. From the ongoing wars in Israel and Ukraine to the challenges we face in our personal lives, instability, conflict, and suffering are very real. Fear, worry, anxiety, and uncertainty seem to be the underlying sense and the new norm.

The problems are often huge, way out of our league, and there is precious little we may feel we can do about it. What does a believer do in such a situation? Is there anything different for a believer to do or does one get swept up in the flow with the rest of the world?

Fear, worry, and challenges are no new concepts in the Bible. Even to Jehoshaphat, a godly king, these experiences were real. Yet, his response to the huge challenge before him is a great example for us even today.

King Jehoshaphat was alerted to the great multitude that was coming to war against him. The Bible tells us that the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was petrified and overwhelmed. And yet, his fear does not paralyze him, he is quick to act. He leads his people in crying out to the only One who he knew could handle his problem. He calls out to the Lord and leads his people to do the same. His prayer reflects his own insufficiency and faith in God’s all-sufficiency. What is your response to the challenges you are facing today?

The Lord answers Jehoshaphat and sends His message through Jahaziel, who says to him, thus says the Lord to you, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15)

God gives an answer and what a one at that! An answer that provides comfort to the heart that is palpitating in fear. An answer that brings strength to the failing heart with a sure promise from the Sovereign Lord, the all-time faithful Promise-Keeper. An answer that takes the weight off Jehoshaphat’s shoulders, bringing such relief to a believing heart.

Much as CPR is a lifesaving procedure when the physical heart is in trouble, we as believers need the Comfort, Promise, and Relief of knowing that the battles we face are not ours to fight. Challenging as the battles may seem, we are called to remember that the battle is the Lord’s, not ours. We can say with the hymn writer, the words of the famous hymn, It is Well With My Soul.

Lord when the challenges of life tend to overwhelm me, help me to find my Comfort, Promise, and Relief in you as you fight my battles.