1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 2 Chronicles 32-33
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.
Lord God, I’m seeing a theme among the kings of Israel, a lack of trust that shows up in so many ways. Instead of trusting you, they trust their own military might; they seek out help from other kings and armies; sometimes – as here – they freak out and panic. Though my battles may look very different from theirs since I’ve never been to war, I face the same issues of faithlessness. I trust my own planning and ingenuity. I trust other people to rescue, help, and heal me from the challenges of life and the sicknesses that come. Or sometimes I just panic. I do all of that, Lord, because I don’t trust you. Lord God, what a comforting word you leave here for your people and your king – “there are more with us than with him.” O God, this word draws me closer to you. It reminds me that you are on my side. You remind me that you are by my side and in my struggle with me. It is not me against life, it is US. And it’s not just you and me, there are so many more on OUR side. There is a countless angel host all around us, in this battle on our side. Whatever I am up against, Lord God help me to remember to trust you first, middle, and last. You are on my side. You proved it to me when your Son, suffered and died on the cross. You proved your might when he was raised from the dead. Nothing can stop you. All victory was won by you. Help me, yes, teach me to trust you all the time. You, along with all your angel host, are on my side and are with my on the plain. Amen.