#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.
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
Ever since sin entered the world man has been at war. By nature, no one welcomes a battle with open arms, especially when it appears unexpectedly. Life is filled with many battles, physical, emotional, and spiritual. These battles come in the form of trials and tribulations, and it was Jesus himself who told us that they were inevitable. Even though we know that sooner or later we will have to face some kind of battle, the truth is that we are never quite prepared. Confronting a life battle, no matter how big or small, involves taking risks, enduring pain, and dealing with possible loss. Therefore, fear and discouragement are to be expected.
The first thing this verse does is that it helps remove the initial anxiety associated with any unexpected challenge. The Lord says, “You will not have to fight this battle.” It may seem ironic that God would allow me to enter a battle only to assure me that I will not have to engage in a fight. But that is precisely the only way He ends up receiving all the glory that is due to His name.
The second thing this verse does is that it reminds me that just because God is taking the battle into his own hands I am not relieved of my responsibility as a soldier in His army. It clearly calls for me to, “Take up [my] position” and “stand firm.” This means that I am to be trained, geared up, and ready (through spiritual disciplines) to face whatever and whenever battles come my way.
And finally, this verse reassures me that if I am ready spiritually then I really have nothing to fear. It is this assurance in the faithfulness of our God that allows me to boldly confront any challenging situation in life with confidence. God will not only fight for me but also see me through.
Joe Rodriguez is a Quality Assurance Supervisor and a part-time Associate Pastor who lives in Belleville, NJ. He is a lighthouse aficionado. I visit, collect, and write about them on my Blog http://wwww.lighthousedevotions.wordpress.com
Defying Shadows 