Drawing up the perfect battle plan…
Powerless. It’s a feeling we know all too well. It’s a feeling we hate. Our child is battling a serious illness, but it’s our battle too. God has given us this child to care for – a task that, at one time, we thought we were up to. Then the illness came and it brought along with it:
*confusion – what is this disease? How do we get rid of it?
*fear – what will happen to my child?
*anger – why is this happening? God, why did you let this happen?
I don’t believe there’s a worse feeling in the world than to feel powerless to help your child. It goes against a mother’s instincts to protect and nurture her little one. Those God given instincts drive us to battle for our children, but we don’t know how.
This is one of the reasons I love the Bible, it’s full of real people making the mistakes that real people make and feeling the emotions that real people feel as they face situations similar to ours. It also gives us God’s response to those people so we can know how He responds to us. In His Word, we find a battle plan for the powerless – the perfect plan for us even today.
While Jehoshaphat reigned as king of Judah, he learned that a “great multitude” was coming against him. This was Jehoshaphat’s response, “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah,” (2 Chronicles 20:3, New King James Version). With his people he prayed, “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You,” (2 Chronicles 20:12, NKJV, underlining mine). Listen closely to God’s response, “And he said, ‘Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!” Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you,’” (2 Chronicles, 15-17, NKJV). Not only did the people go out against their attackers, as God had said, but they went out lifting up songs and praises. That’s all they lifted, not a sword, not a stone – just worship. As they worshipped the LORD destroyd their enemies. The battle was the LORD’s.
Your battle is the LORD’s too. Your child’s illness is not yours to fight. You can follow Jehoshaphat’s example as your battle plan though:
1. Set yourself to seek God and fast. I’m not going to push the issue of fasting, and I’m not an expert of the subject, BUT, Jesus does say, “When you fast” (Matthew 6:6). That makes it clear that there is an expectation that you will do it. It is a powerful weapon and a discipline that will bring you closer to God.
2. Recognize that you are powerless, but He is all-powerful. You don’t know what to do, but He does. Set your eyes on Him.
3. Listen and be ready to obey.
4. Do what he tells you. What does God want you to do? He will guide us all differently. So we need to be listening for His special plan just for us. Even though our child’s illness may be like someone else’s child’s illness, we can’t just follow in their footsteps. Our child is unique. God’s plan for them is unique too. Follow His lead as you deal with doctors. If they have a plan for your child, make sure to find out what God’s plan is first. Is God telling you to get a 2nd opinion or even change doctors?
5. Worship Him. When your fear sets in, in the middle of your battle, when the battle has been won – praise Him! Have you made your Praise and Worship CD yet? It’s amazing what worship can do for fear, have you experienced it?
There’s your perfect battle plan, straight from God’s Word – hand your fight over to the one with all the power.
Tell us – do you fast? How do you fast and what has been your experience?
In His Love,
Kimberly
