The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Monday
July 7, 2008
Then the Assyrian king's personal representative sent this message to King
Hezekiah:
"This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting
in that makes you so confident? Do you think that mere words can substitute
for military skill and strength? Which of your allies will give you any military
backing against Assyria? Will Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, you will find it
to be a stick that breaks beneath your weight and pierces your hand. The Pharaoh
of Egypt is completely unreliable!
"But perhaps you will say, 'We are
trusting in the LORD our God!' But isn't he the one who was
insulted by King Hezekiah? Didn't Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and
make everyone in Judah worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?"
Isaiah
36:4-7
I can't help but smile when I read this passage. I can just see that old Assyrian king with all his false pride thinking he has the power to defeat God's people. Granted, the Assyrian army was a foe many people feared, at times even King Hezekiah feared him, but God had a message!
God wants us to be a confident people. In Psalm 27:3, David said, "Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear. Even if they attack me, I remain confident." For sure, there will be attacks and the closer we get to God's purpose for our life, those attacks will get stronger, believe me, I know this ¾ all too well! At the end of that Psalm, (verses 13-14) David also says, "Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." Our strength ¾ the secret ingredient ¾ comes as we "wait on the Lord" and let Him battle for us.
In Romans 5:3-5, Paul tells us, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us ¾ they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." We are to rejoice when bad things start happening in our lives. We can know that God is building us up for something higher. He wants to take us to a new level of trusting Him! I don't know about you, but I'll be glad when I reach the last level.
For several years God has been teaching me about being a mighty oak. As the winds of adversity blow through our lives our roots go deeper and deeper into the soil of God's love and we are then prepared for the blessings and the storms that will come again. This gives us confidence, not in ourselves, but in the God who created us. We will be able to accomplish all that He has planned for us.
So, whether it is preparing a meal for family, friends, or strangers ¾ know this ¾ you are not alone. God is working closely beside you and when the enemy attacks ¾ be strong ¾ that Assyrian king is defeated!
Lord, as a little girl, when bullies would come against me I would cower down and run. I praise You for showing me that I am no longer that little girl. I am a mighty warrior in Your army. Help us as we reach out and share this Good News with others who believe the lies of the past more than they believe the truth of Your presence with us in the present!
