The battle is not yours
(II Chronicles 20.12-23)
This is an interesting passage of scripture. The people were frightened, and evidently reasonably so. They were obviously not equal to the enemy who was attacking them.
They received this encouragement from the priests and prophets:
Do not be afraid or discouraged
The battle is not yours, but God's
Tomorrow march down against them
Take up your positions
Stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you
" Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you."
Why is it that I rarely feel equal to the strife or challenges in my life? My initial inclination is usually to want to hide. I'm not inclined to want to take up my position, nor to stand firm.
I would rather anticipate the terms of negotiation and retreat/withdraw from the battlefield. My thoughts usually running along this path, "If I'm not wanted or appreciated, I certainly don't want or need to be here."
The first step in winning against great odds is to go ahead and face the day - "Tomorrow march down against them..."
"Take up your position..." this necessitates knowing what your 'position' is, or at least what it should be.
"Stand firm..." Oh, by the way, I need to mention that in this passage it says twice, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged..."
I don't think I feel fear. I suspect that in most situations I'm not smart enough to be afraid. I definitely am acquainted with discouragement.
"...go out and face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you." Go out and face them...now that could mean the enemy (probably). Or, I could take it to mean 'go out and face them' (fear and discouragement) - which is more likely in my life.
Anyway, the promise was that "...the Lord will be with you." Who knows, it might all work out without a single cross word being said. I've seen troublesome situations self-destruct before.
Relax, let God be God and don't go borrowing trouble - the above encouragements don't apply if you have slapped the eight hundred pound gorilla. In that situation I believe God will pretty much let you face the gorilla on your own.