What is your response when you’re facing an insurmountable problem – a situation in which you have no idea what to do? That was the dilemma that King Jehoshaphat faced:

Now it came about after this, that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 20:1)

He was facing a formidable alliance and he clearly recognized the threat that Judah faced. His response was to go to God in prayer:

Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord; and he proclaimed a period of fasting throughout Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 20:3-4)

There exists a healthy fear that enables us to rightly assess the severity of the danger. There is a profound difference between being fearless and being courageous. If he wasn’t afraid, it could be that he did not understand the precarious nature of the threat. Courage does not exist without fear. Courage is not the absence of fear, but it is the ability to act in spite of our fear. There also exists an unhealthy fear that ignores God’s presence and immobiizes us. What gave Jehoshaphat the confidence to act in the face of overwhelming odds? In his prayer, he focused on God’s power:

and he said, “Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.” (2 Chronicles 20:6)

Next, he recounted God’s faithfulness in the past:

“Did You not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land from Your people Israel, and give it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever?” (2 Chronicles 20:7)

Finally, he confessed his absolute dependence upon God:

“Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

There are times in our lives when we do not know what to do. What is your response when you’re faced with a dilemma and you don’t know what to do? This is the time when we must resolutely keep our eyes upon God. A prophet came forward and reminded the people that the battle belongs to the Lord:

and he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.'” (2 Chronicles 20:15)

What is an overwhelming situation that you’re facing and you don’t know what to do? Don’t be immobilized by fear – keep your eyes on the Lord and trust in Him.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5