Surrounded by the Problems

 

Hello my dear readers, I begin this post with a question, how strong we remain endure when we are facing and overcoming the problem?  Maybe the answer will goes to: “Well, if the problem that we face is not a big problem and just one problem, we will remain strong. Okay then. One more question, what if we are facing huge problems, it comes insistently and we are bestead in it, we could keep strong? My post this evening is based on my friend’s story those years ago was in the very hard season in her lives. She was wedged in the middle of the crush of some problems at once.  Her husband’s business had a collapse, heavily indebted, and to pay the debts they were forced to sell their house and had to move to another smaller house than before. They had a serious financial problem and due consideration of age, her husband quite difficult to get a new job while it is impossible to make a new business. Not just stop there, one of their sons stated by doctor had a blood abnormality disease called Thalassemia and need special treatment, and it means need big cost for therapy. A few days ago she sent me an email telling that her situation now is starting getting better. One thing that makes me thrilled is, through her email she said: “Karin, last year we were besieged by the huge problems. We couldn’t go forward or even go backward from these problems.  At the time we absolutely didn’t know what we have to do. We just knew one thing, we were in the darkest tunnel but we know and we believe outside of the tunnel there is still a light of the sun, and at the end of the tunnel we do believe that there is a light of hope from God. As you always said to us, don’t be afraid, be strong, God really love us and He will never leave us alone, right? Now God’s love has proven in our lives. He never leaves us alone. Now God is bringing us into the journey toward the triumphant…”

My beloved friends, related with my friend’s story, I love to take an example from a story in the book of 2 Chronicles that is from King Jehoshaphat. Let’s see what happens at that time. At that time the Judah’s people was experiencing a very complicated situation. They squeezed and threatened destroyed with the coming threat of the descendants of Moab and Ammon also from an army of Meunites.

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 20:1 NIV)

It obviously was not an easy situation, because obviously their strength is not balanced in the face of such magnitude attack. In a state of frantic and scared, then Jehoshaphat was inviting all Israel to seek the Lord, fasting and crying out to God (Verse 3-12) and soon God answered their help request. Through Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, God exclaimed:

Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (Verse 15 KJV)

And that’s what happened. Hard to believe but when God has to intervene, none of the larger problem than God was able to defeat His power.

Like my friend, the same thing might be happen to us today. Perhaps not in the form of troops attack at once, but various difficult conditions, complicated situation, a major threat; a tight squeeze may suddenly appear in front of us, where logic is not absolutely in favor to us to overcome it. But look at the God’s great and comforting promise. God says that we don’t have to fear even if the situation did not favor us. Why? If we read verse 15 carefully we will find the reason. The threats problems in life can be united attack us as well as attacking of a large combined army but once again don’t be afraid because not our battle but God’s battle.

Now let’s take a look to the other example in the book of Exodus 23. Once again we got the shooting God’s voice:

For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. (Exodus 23:23 KJV)

The Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and so forth are describing the giants who are ready to hit and knock us down just by one hit. Logically we will definitely lose hit from every side. But God said that it is not our battle but His battle. God sent His angels to walk in the front. We will still facing “the giants” but God said that He will cut them off. This is God’s promise of inclusion and rescue to us.

My dear readers, when we surrounded by the huge problems and pressured us from all side, what shall we do? Let’s for a moment take a look to the verse 22:

But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries

This is the first thing that we should to do. Obey His voice and do everything God wants. There are two option that given to us:  

the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:27-28 NKJV)

God also said: “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28 NKJV) The God’s word will help us in dealing with various problems, protect us, strengthen, and provide the best solutions to all the problems we face. There are wonderful promises in the God’s word, there is an assurance, and there is immense power that can make us remain firm without losing the joy and happiness though we are surrounded by a series of huge problems.

The second important thing that we should to do is, as I always said to my friend, don’t be afraid!  When the Israelites were in a tight squeeze because in front of them was a vast ocean while at the back there was the army of Pharaoh were ready to destroy, we can see how God himself then save them by way of parting of the sea into two parts so that the Israelites could walk across the sea. Moses said:

“Do not be afraid. Standstill, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

(Exodus 14:13 NKJV)

Don’t be afraid, standstill and see the Lord’s salvation. These are the key point in order to break away from the crush of problems and the wedged situations. Why we don’t need to be afraid? Please don’t forget that God has promised to each of His children who always obedient and convicted that He will never leave us though should go through great difficulties like a deluge that ready to drown us or like a fire that ready to burn down us.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you… (Isaiah 43:2-3a NKJV)

God many times stated His inclusion, upkeep and help to us. Many times too God urged us to not be afraid. Like through this verse:

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”(Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV)

Also through this verse:

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV)

My brother and sister in Christ, in our lives will always come times when we have to deal with problems that sometimes could be so many and big like a giant who united attack us from any direction at once. There are certain times we are experiencing the hard season like my friend. We definitely cannot eschew from it all. That is a part of our life journey. But allow me to encourage one thing to all of us: Please remember that God has promised a help to His children who always faithful and obedient to His word and always do what is become His will. He himself will wage war and He will bring us into the victory. That’s why we don’t have to be afraid about everything in this life. We may surrounded by the problems but one thing for sure is we also surrounded by God’s angels who always help and guard us in all our ways

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

(Psalm 91:11 NIV)

If any among us are facing the “Moabites”, “Ammonites”, “Amorites”, “Hittites”,” Perizzites”, and so on,  let’s still stand strong, don’t  back down, don’t hesitate and don’t be afraid. The situation may be extremely hard for the moment, but remember that above all else we have God with a supreme authority. Is God himself, not us who will be fighting against it all. Listen to Him, obey His Word and do what he wants, maintain our faith and relationship with God every day, then we don’t necessary lose the joy and peace despite being surrounded by a variety of problems. Amen.

Karina – Living by faith

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