II Chronicles 20:15
“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.”
Suggested Scripture reading – II Chronicles 20:1-30
Chemotherapy was really rough. First, it made her very sick. It took her strength. It took her hair and forced her to wear a wig every where she went. Yet, through all that, the Lord gave her a peace and a confidence that was a powerful testimony of God’s grace to all she met. The nurses who administered her medications were amazed at her strength of spirit and began to seek her advice and prayers.
The secret of her strength is founded in an obscure passage in II Chronicles. The context concerns King Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah. Jehoshaphat received word that there “cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria.” (vs. 2) The king was frightened and began to pray for his country. His prayer was, “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” (vs. 12) God sent a man filled with the “Spirit of the Lord” with this message. “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.” (vs. 15) The conclusion of the story and the secret of our patient’s strength are in verse 17. “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” Judah faced an impossible battle. There was no way that they could win or even fight this battle. God knew that. He undertook for His people and defeated the enemies of Judah.
Just like Judah and Jehoshaphat she had moments of fear and discouragement. Her secret was that she had learned to turn the battle over to the Lord and He gave her strength to endure. He fought her battle. In His wisdom the Father eventually took her home to be with Himself. Her story is not over, however. Her testimony of faith and strength lives on today in her children and family. They learned from her example that they do not need to fight the impossible problems but give them to God.
They need not fear: for the battle is the Lord’s.
Psalm 16:8-11
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
