October 25, 2023

Fight, Flight or Face It
TAYLOR STUART 

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“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV) 

I groaned as I sat alone in my car parked in front of my workplace. The feelings of overwhelm and exhaustion pinned me to the seat.

Fifty-to-60-hour workweeks had become my norm. Even with all those hours, I was still struggling financially. What was worse were the feelings of guilt for feeling so overwhelmed. I should be grateful to even have a job. I just need to get over myself. Everything is fine … right?

The truth was that everything wasn’t fine. Monday-morning pep talks with myself in the parking lot soon turned into a war raging in my mind. I didn’t know how to fight my problem or run away from it. I was at a loss.

It’s discouraging to feel depleted and think, This was not supposed to be my story. Whether it’s the doctor’s report we never thought we would receive, the ending of a relationship we thought would last forever, or maybe the job we worked so hard for that is not turning out the way we expected, we often cannot escape the wars we feel raging in and around us. Yet we wish we could hide rather than face them.

Thankfully, God gave us the beautiful story of King Jehoshaphat that can help teach us how to deal with our problems His way.

In 2 Chronicles 20, we meet Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. He had just received word that a vast army was coming to destroy him and his people.

Jehoshaphat pleaded to the Lord: “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12b, NIV).

God’s gentle response settled the king’s anxious heart: “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

God cares about our safety and well-being, and often He does provide a way of escape from danger; in this story, though, God called the king to face his problem with praise. And as he began to sing of God's glory, the enemy began to fall (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).

God didn’t tell Jehoshaphat to fight his problem, and He didn’t tell him to flee; He told him to face it with God by his side. The king faced his impossible situation and responded with praise before he even knew the outcome.

In moments where you find yourself in a seemingly impossible situation and you’re not sure whether to fight, flee or face it, you can invite God into that space too. Even if all you have left is a whisper, whisper His name.

One simple decision helped me face the battle with my job: I decided to start listening to worship music on my way to work in the morning. Not just as background music — I would sing out loud with the words. You don’t have to have a perfect voice to praise. Praise is a posture, not a performance. The choice to face each day with praise gave me the reminder that God was in the car with me and would walk into work with me every single day. This sounds easier said than done, but as we acknowledge His presence, we then notice His power. Our battle cry is the name of Jesus.

As we begin to sing, we can trust that God has already begun His work. By the time we get to the edge of our battlefield, we will see the Lord has already won.

Father, give me the strength to face this day with praise. Help me to remember this battle is not mine but Yours. Help me to keep my eyes on You through every situation I face. I praise You, Father, for Your goodness. Thank You for defeating all my enemies. Thank You for keeping me safe. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

As believers, we are called to live like Jesus. But we can’t live like Jesus if we don’t really know how He lived during His time on earth. That’s why we are diving into 30 significant moments of His life and ministry in our new study, Good News: How the Four Gospels Point Us to One Person We Can Trust, starting November 13 in the free First 5 mobile app. Get an in-depth look at the differences and similarities of all four books in one study so you can gain a better understanding of the trustworthiness of Jesus. Click here to order your study guide!

ENGAGE

You can connect with Taylor on Instagram @Taylor.o.Stuart.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 27:6, “And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD” (NASB).

What battle do you feel like you are facing today? What is keeping you from praising God before you know the outcome? Share with us in the comments!

© 2023 by Taylor Stuart. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org