When We Don’t Know What to Do - The Crosswalk Devotional - January 18
When We Don’t Know What to Do
By Hannah Benson
Bible Reading:
“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” - 2 Chronicles 20:12 ESV
One afternoon, as I flipped open my Bible, my eyes landed on 2 Chronicles 20:12. As I reread the entire chapter, I was struck by what I uncovered in that passage.
Picture this.
The tribe of Judah receives word that three different armies, the Ammonites, Moabites, and those from Mount Seir, are plotting to attack them. When God’s people first entered the land, He had not allowed them to conquer Ammon, Moab, or Mount Seir (see Deut. 2). And now?
The enemy was coming for God’s people.
Not one.
Or two.
But three powerful armies.
King Jehoshaphat, the king reigning over Judah at the time, was afraid. He was the leader. Perhaps he was even expected to have all the answers to protect Judah from this threat. But you know what struck me the most?
As we read the passage, we notice the Scripture says, “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord” (v. 3). In addition, he proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah.
In the midst of fear, he turned to God and encouraged others to do the same.
As I read that, I was instantly convicted. If a nation’s king could lead with such humility and grace, should not each of us respond the same? Yes, when Jehoshaphat saw that these armies were coming, he was afraid.
How many of us can say the same? How many of us see something, are afraid, but then set our face to seek the Lord? How many times have I done that? Not as much as I wish.
Think about it.
Usually, so many of us are afraid and run to numb that fear. We often numb fear - whether through distractions or endless scrolling - instead of seeking God.
It doesn’t really matter how we numb our fear. The fact is, we all have all been tempted to turn to something other than God when we are afraid.
If we try to numb our fear with anything other than God, we will come away dissatisfied. Only God can truly satisfy us and give us peace.
Turn to God.
Not only did Jehoshaphat set his face to seek the Lord in his fear, but he chose honesty instead of what made him look good. He was upfront and honest with all of Judah, sharing in his prayer to God, “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 12).
He could’ve tried to appear strong, like he had all the answers. But he openly and freely admitted he didn’t. This was a fix only God could get them out of. In essence, he was saying, “God needs to do this. God needs to work because I can’t.” And then, he sought the Lord in prayer and encouraged all of Judah to seek the Lord with him.
His dependence on God is what defined his leadership and set an example for the people.
In addition, I noticed that Jehoshaphat recognized God’s sovereignty. In the beginning of his prayer in verse 6, he says, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you."
He recognized that God was sovereign and the only one who could save them.
Second, he clung to God’s promises, recalling how the Lord had given them the land (v. 7-9) and trusting He could deliver them again.
But even though God already knows everything, the Lord loves it when we share our hearts with Him.
Finally, Jehoshaphat begged God to execute judgment on their enemies. “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 12).
Guess what happened next?
The Spirit of the Lord came upon a man named Jehaziel, and he said (v. 15). “Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s'”. He goes on to give 3 specific instructions.
- Stand firm.
- Hold your position.
- See the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.
Sometimes, the Lord allows us to go through difficult trials and drives us to our knees so that we can recognize and realize that we are powerless against whatever we are facing.
Immediately after the Lord spoke to Jehaziel, Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground and worshipped the Lord. It is so inspiring to me that this is the first thing he did. His act of surrender and glory to God led Judah and Jerusalem to fall down on their faces, worshipping the Lord.
But they didn’t stop there.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
The Scriptures tell us that they rose early in the morning and went out. Not only that, but they sang to the Lord and praised Him as they went out to battle.
"And when they had begun to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed" (v. 22).
I’m sure they still struggled with fear. But imagine if the men of Judah had allowed their fear to stop them from following God.
Thank God they didn’t.
This passage reminds me that fear may come, but faith fixes our eyes on God — and He fights for us.
Pray with me:
Dear Father God, please help me to walk in faith even when I’m afraid. To always seek Your face first instead of caving into my fears. I trust You to work everything out for my good and your glory and to make me even more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-31).
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/SIphotography
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Listen to the The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane
A happy home doesn't happen by accident, but it can be created with love, intention, and good family habits. If you need encouragement and guidance as a parent and/or spouse, this show is for you! Arlene will help you bridge the gap between your present reality and ideal family.
Your host Arlene Pellicane is a speaker and author of several books, including Making Marriage Easier, Screen Kids and Parents Rising. She and her husband James have been married for more than 27 years and have three children.
Inside this podcast, you’ll meet some of the kindest and smartest experts when it comes to marriage and parenting. Get ready for fun, Biblical insights, and practical conversations that will change your thinking, give you hope, and spark positive change. Let's do this together!
