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In part one I introduced you to the story of Jehoshaphat, one of the kings of Judah. It is found in 2 Chronicles 20 and is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I encourage you to read it for yourself; if you have time now, open your Bible to the 20th chapter of 2 Chronicles and follow along with me. Judah was the smallest of the two Israeli nations, with only two tribes. They were headquartered in Jerusalem, but they were small and not really equipped to fight a large enemy army.
Yet, in this chapter we learn that all of a sudden three enemy armies are headed their way with the full intent to destroy all of them and take over their land. We saw how Jehoshaphat responded when he heard this frightening news. He was alarmed, as you would expect, but his first move was to inquire of the Lord. Then, from his prayer, we are gleaning seven R’s that tell us what we should do when we don’t know what to do. Truly Jehoshaphat had no plan of how they could ever defeat this great army coming against them. But instead of feeling sorry for himself or running away or giving up, he inquired of the Lord.
First, he recited who God was, so he and his people would be God-centered instead of problem-focused. Then he remembered how God had been faithful to them in times past—he remembered how God had always been with them. So, the first two R’s are:
- Recite who God is.
- Remember what God has done for you in the past.
Now, we begin with the third R:
#3: Recall God’s promises.
That’s what Jehoshaphat does next. He says:
If calamity comes upon us…we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us (2 Chronicles 20:9).
God had given them the promise that if they would stand in his presence before the temple and cry out to God, he would hear and save them. Jehoshaphat was claiming that promise. He didn’t need to remind God of his promise; he needed to recall it himself and the people of Judah needed to remember how God had promised to take care of them.
The Bible has promises there just for you, did you know that? Have you learned to turn to God’s Word and ask for a promise when you face an impossible situation?
I remember when I first started this ministry in 1984 on one station in Chicago. That’s all I ever figured it would be, and I was thrilled that God had given me that opportunity. Then shortly after, opportunities began to open, and it dawned on me that this ministry could grow and become much larger than I’d ever imagined. And I was frightened; I knew how inadequate I was for such an assignment. I knew how inexperienced I was. And I really wanted to back out. But I couldn’t deny that God had opened the doors in a miraculous way.
So, I sat down with my Bible and prayed, “Lord, if this is a ministry you have for me, then please, give me a promise to hang on to as I embark upon it, because I know there will be days and times when I will want to quit.” Well, my reading that day included Isaiah 50, and right there in that wonderful chapter is God’s promise for me. Let me share it with you:
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. . . Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame (Isaiah 50: 4-7).
I knew that was God’s promise to me. Those verses are now framed in my office, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone back to them when I’ve been discouraged, when I’ve been tired, when I’ve been wearied of the responsibility. And that promise has sustained me and strengthened me to set my face like flint and claim the promise that I would not be put to shame.
Do you need a promise from God right now? Go to his Word and ask for it; God will give one to you, too.
#4: Restate the problem to God.
Now, after Jehoshaphat has recited who God is, remembered what he has done, and recalled his promises, then—and not until then—Jehoshaphat restates his problem. He prays:
But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us (2 Chronicles 20:10-12a).
Jehoshaphat is realistic about the problem. God has never asked us to stick our heads in the sand and pretend our problems don’t exist. But instead of griping and complaining or throwing a pity party, we should just present that problem to God with all the honesty of our heart and tell him exactly how we feel about it. That’s what Jehoshaphat did. He ventilated his anger and the unfairness of the whole situation. But he did it in the right way to the right One.
The sequence is extremely important. You restate the problem after you have recited who God is, remembered what he has done, and recalled his promises to you. Then you’re ready to focus on the problem because you’re God-centered instead of self-centered.
#5: Release the problem to God.
As soon as he lays out the problem to the Lord, Jehoshaphat releases the problem to God.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you (2 Chronicles 20:12b).
He admits his total inability to solve the problem. He doesn’t pretend to have any answers. But he simply says, “Lord, here it is. It’s your problem, not mine.”
That’s what Jesus meant when he invited us to exchange our heavy burden for his light burden. Just dump them at his feet in recognition of your own inability to do anything about them. That is releasing the problem to God’s care. It is evidence that you trust him.
Do you have trouble letting go? It’s one of my struggles. I may let it go and then a few hours later, I pick it up again. When you truly don’t know what to do and there seem to be no reasonable options open to you, that’s when you release it to God and declare that you trust him. Often, I have used Jehoshaphat’s very words: “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on you.”
#6: Rejoice in God’s salvation
This next step is really exciting. After his prayer, a prophet rose up and said: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).
That word of encouragement did not come until Jehoshaphat had released the problem to God. When you and I keep holding on, complaining and worrying and trying to fix things ourselves, we hold back God’s plan of deliverance. He’s waiting to see your act of faith, which must come before the deliverance.
The next day, as they sat out to face this impossible enemy, Jehoshaphat encouraged them again that they would be victorious because the Lord was fighting their battle for them. And he appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever (2 Chronicles 20:21).
You see, they went into the battle rejoicing that it was won. That’s the sixth R—rejoice in advance, even before you know how God is going to deliver you. You must give these singing guys credit. They marched in front of the fighting men, headed toward an enemy that could easily wipe them out, and they were the first to go. But they obeyed God and praised him for the victory even before it was accomplished.
And when they reached the battlefield, all they found were dead bodies lying on the ground; the enemies became confused and killed each other. Jehoshaphat’s army didn’t even have to fight. They had to show up; they had to obey God; they had to face the enemy; they had to claim the victory in advance. But once they got there, the fight was over.
Oh, what great principles we find in this wonderful example of faith. What is your impossibility today? Do you really want to let God take control? If so, follow Jehoshaphat’s plan and begin by
- Reciting out loud who God is.
- Remembering what he has done for you.
- Recalling his promises to you.
- Restating the problem, spelling it out.
- Releasing it to God’s solution.
- Rejoicing that he has already heard and answered.
#7: Rest
Now, there’s one more R that is the result of following these principles. We find it verse 30:
And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Are you in need of some rest today? Are you tired of trying to fight your own battles? Are you weary of losing them? Maybe it’s time you followed Jehoshaphat’s example. Release the problem to God and let him fight the battle for you. You do have to show up; you do have to obey; you do have to march to the battlefield. But you don’t have to fight. It’s God’s fight, not yours. But first you must let go and give him control.