When trouble comes

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ - 2 Chronicles 20:5-9

King Jehoshaphat found his nation in big trouble. The were surrounded by enemies less than fifty kilometres away. They were already weakened. There didn’t seem to be any hope. It really looked bad.

Jehoshaphat was not perfect. He had made foolish alliances. Like all the rest of the kings he did not fully followed the Lord. God was sort of in the background.

But now, with trouble all around, he realised that the nation needed the Lord’s help.

So when troubles came Jehoshaphat did what he should have done – he went to the Lord.

The king acknowledged the power of God. He knew that God could do anything. He knew that controlled heaven and earth. He knew that all power and all might were in God’s hands. He knew that God was their only hope against the enemies.

So he did exactly what he needed to do. He cried out to God and He knew God would hear them and that God would deal with the situation.

So what do we do when troubles come and the enemies are closing in? What do we do when we feel surrounded?

We look to the the God of heaven who rules over the nation's. Remember that He is able to show Himself strong to those who are loyal to Him. Call out to Him, and watch Him do what He does best.