Gina Caswell Kelly
In 2 Kings there is a really cool story about the king being super irritated because the prophet Elisha seems to be able to tell what he is about to do before he even does anything. The King is convinced there is a spy in his midst.
The king is sure someone is leaking information. Determined to stop this problem, the king assembles his army of chariots and heads on over to Elisha’s house. When Elisha’s servant opens the door, he is scared to death. But Elisha does not appear to be a bit worried. Elisha calmly tells his servant to not be afraid. He says, in verse 16, “Do not be afraid. Those that are with us are greater than those that are against us.”
Well, that sounds really good in theory. But the reality was what Elisha’s servant was dealing with. He only knew what he could see out the front door. But, Elisha had spent plenty of time with God. He knew His God was faithful. He knew better than to just trust God with what he could see happening in the front yard.
Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened so he too could see what God was doing while the servant’s knees were knocking in fear. When the servant looked again, he saw chariots of fire surrounding the house and getting ready to take on the king’s army. What a great story of deliverance!
In my Bible, I have verse 16 underlined, highlighted, circled and almost completely covered with notes and dates written beside it. Times that I have desperately needed God’s deliverance and I have seen God’s chariots of fire surrounding me. Of course my battles have not been battles for my life, but they were battles that were frightening to me just the same.
My battles for the last 20 years have been mostly farm and finance related, but for this little girl and most big old guys, these battles may as well be battles for our own lives. They are just as frightening. These “enemies” that have surrounded me at times and threatened to consume me are just as scary as a great army coming after me. These days, there is so much out there that absolutely terrifies us. We have seen so much in the last year or so. But, it is true that no matter what battle you facing whether it is illness, financial, emotional or even death, our God is bigger and stronger than all of these.
Now, understand me. Just because I follow God doesn’t mean that fears won’t still come at me. And it doesn’t mean that these trials just magically disappear every single time. What it does mean is that my God will stand beside me. My God will carry me. He will be right there with His plan and with hands of comfort and strength. Yes, sometimes His plan is not my plan, but no matter what is in store up ahead of us, God’s plan will always be the one that leads to peace.
Whatever you might be going through, remember Elisha’s prayer for his servant and pray that prayer in your own life. “God open my eyes to see that you are here with me, working your plan to perfection.”
Oh God! Open our eyes to see how You are working today in our lives, in our nation, in our world! Help us to see that You are fighting with us!
It will make a difference!
