It was the hardest day of my life. One phone call, and my life crumbled into a pile of dust easily blown away by shock and unbelief. In a moment, my trust in God was tested as never before. Could I trust Him with this?
Trusting God would certainly be easier if we could see Him and His angel armies face-to-face. But even though we can’t see them in the physical realm, we can trust that they are in the spiritual realm—a realm that is more powerful than anything we could ever imagine. Even when we don’t see God working, we can be sure that He is. Click & Tweet!
God shows us a powerful glimpse into that spiritual realm in 2 Kings 6:8-18. At this time, the prophet Elijah was really getting on the king of Aram’s nerves. Ancient Aram (now Syria) was fighting against the Israelites, and Elisha was able to predict where and when the Arameans were going to attack. He warned the Israelite army so that they were on guard and ready when the enemy attacked. The Aramean king was furious! Here’s what the Bible tells us.
This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” (My favorite verse of the story!)
“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”
Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
I’ve felt like this before. Haven’t you? Difficult circumstances press in from every side. My story looms large while I shrink small. “This is too much for me!” I cry. I can’t do this anymore. I don’t even want to go out of my house. I can’t face another day! Where are You God? You promised You would never leave me or forsake me, but I don’t sense Your presence. And if You are here, why aren’t You doing anything? I want out of this story!
Honest. Raw. Somewhat embarrassing to admit. We wake up in the mornings and sense the enemies all around—surrounded by problems that we cannot solve and people we cannot control.
Elijah’s servant felt the same way. His faith was as flimsy as the tent flaps he was standing behind. Elijah’s was as strong as the tent peg anchoring the canvas in place.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:11-16 NIV)
How can we better trust God during trying times? Remember: “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elijah knew that there was more power and strength in the unseen reality of the heavenly host than the seen reality of the enemy’s army.
Notice that the passage doesn’t say that Elisha prayed that God would send an army. The warring angels on chariots of fire were already there. He simply prayed that the servant would be allowed to see them.
Friend, God is surrounding whatever difficult situation is surrounding you. Click & Tweet! Jesus painted this same picture in John 14:20 when he said, “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”
Most likely God won’t pull back the curtain separating the physical realm from the spiritual realm for us to see, but we can be assured that we are surrounded by a heavenly host ready to protect us in our deepest struggles.
Lord, open my eyes that I might see what is already there. Open my heart that I might believe what is already there. Strengthen my faith that I might trust that You are surrounding what is surrounding me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What is one situation in your life right now that you are having trouble trusting God? What is God speaking to your heart about His awareness of your situation and His protection in your circumstances?
Do you want the kind of faith that ushers in total trust? That knows God is always working? That tells the devil, “be gone!” The kind of mountain moving, giant slaying faith that keeps your feet on solid ground no matter how shaky? If so, then Sharon’s book, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For: Let go, Move forward, Live bold is just for you. It also includes a study guide.
Need prayer? Click here to post on Sharon’s prayer wall and to pray for others.
Comments 26
Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement. This spoke deeply to me today, praise the Lord!
Please pray hard for me to get into a house here in Florida. These criminals put a lot of things on my credit report ( long story) but it’s called a mob hit. God has been keeping me safe and this is real. Look up wwwhometitle lock.com please help me get my attorney or friend in Georgia to help me get into a safe place ! ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏 Jeanette
Praying Jeanette!🙏
Jeanette—as a real estate broker in Indiana and Illinois I pray for the right houses for my buyers. I believe the right house isn’t available for you yet but when the right house comes along, God will open the floodgates and you will be blessed with the house He’s already picked out for you and you will be blessed! Praying. Cyndy
Dear Jeanette
I manage rental properties in Pinellas County FL.
If there is anything I can do to help you please contact me directly at 727-735-3327.
Kathy Anne
God and I have been talking. He’s making me see things that I have been unaware of. He talks to me but I don’t listen. I would hear but I don’t listen or do it. I know what He said is right, yet I don’t do. I have been taking things for granted not heeding His warnings. I need to let Go and let GOD.
My prayer request is for my husband who loves Jesus & suffers from Alzheimer’s. May he grow no worse & May I have strength to endure this test.
My sister also has Alzheimer’s (sundowners) and her poor husband is struggling to keep her home with him:(. I pray for both your family and mine as the struggles are so real and heartbreaking, I pray you are able to endure with gods comfort & strength,
My sister also has Alzheimer’s (sundowners) and her poor husband is struggling to keep her home with him:(. I pray for both your family and mine as the struggles are so real and heartbreaking, I pray you are able to endure with gods comfort & strength,
For those families who are trusting God through the process of caring for a love one with Alzheimer’s, if you haven’t checked with a hospice agency in your area or with your love one’s doctor for a recommendation, hospice care can be an amazing support system for you and your family. Someone doesn’t have to be at the end of their life to qualify for hospice care. This has really helped many families.
I’ve recently lost my husband, and I’m suffering financially. I’m trying to trust God for help in paying my taxes on my house by Dec.31st of $300.
Please increase my faith that God will provide this need.
Thank you.
I’m struggling with sexual sin, the kind God speaks about and is wrecking my life with Jesus.
I’m praying for you sir! I writ people’s names in my bible who struggle, we all struggle in one way or another with different things. Father in Heaven I pray you walk with Charles through this fire to keep him safe, show him love, forgiveness, and guidance. In Jesus Name, Amen
Please pray for our finances. If one of us lost our job, we couldn’t pay our bills. We are in our early 60s with no savings. Husband took 4 years off twice, and used his inheritance. Now when we are slowing down, we have to work for years ahead. Also, open a state to move to. I want out of CA but he doesn’t. Why is everything what he wants? Please hear my prayers.
Kari, I will be praying for you and your husband to pray together consistently and to study God’s word together. If your husband doesn’t want to pray or study with you, pray and ask God to change both of you to hear HIS voice, know HIS voice and move forward by faith in whatever way HE speaks to both of you. If both of you are seeking God’s plan, you will not have to ask the question, “Why is everything what he wants?” When the two of you come together, it will be about what HE wants for the two of you! Blessings to you.
Thank you Sharon. I really needed to read these words today! It is truly amazing how God speaks when you least expect it!
My husband just had lymph nodes with Melanoma removed. I need encouragement that a treatment will keep this Melanoma from attacking his organs.
I am mourning the death of my son. And it’s the holidays and I just feel like I can’t go on. I’m trying to stay to be here for my younger son, but it’s so hard. It hurts so bad.
I am praying for you. The holiday season can be so difficult. We often see others who are joyful and enjoying their families and we feel so alone. There have been times when I have felt I cannot go on. I am so tired of this life. But I keep on keeping on – for my children, and because God may still have work for me to do here. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention
Lord,
Please give Angel comfort, peace and strength. Surround her with love and encouragement and help her to continually turn to you when she feels like quitting. Protect her, Lord. Please be with her younger son too. Comfort and encourage him as well. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Thank you, Sharon, always for your devotions. This one sentence today is so powerful that I am forwarding to friends and family and writing boldly to sit in a prominent spot for me. I will share it is from you and your heart from the Lord.
Strengthen my faith….that You are surrounding what is surrounding me.
Thank you, Sharon, always for your devotions. This one sentence today is so powerful that I am forwarding to friends and family and writing it boldly to sit in a prominent spot for me. I will share it is from you and your heart from the Lord.
“Strengthen my faith….that You are surrounding what is surrounding me.”
Sharon,
Thank you for being a humble servant of the most high God. I appreciate you and how the Lord is using you.
I’m praying for all the prayer requests below. I’ve been through genetic breast cancer twice now. Thankfully God healed me both times but the treatments were very difficult in so many ways. Please pray that I wouldn’t be anxious about my health and that this genetic mutation wouldn’t be passed on to my kids. I want to trust that God is in control and bigger than any cancer. Thank you!
I have for some time trying to get your daily devotions please 🙏 🙂
Asking God for wisdom, discernment and strength to make some very difficult decisions regarding my marriage and our business. My father died 7 months ago very unexpectedly. He was such a Godly man who I could turn to in my times of need. I miss him dearly but know he’s rejoicing with the Lord.