BATTLES
One of my favorite battle cry worship songs is “Surrounded”. Part of the lyrics are, “in the valley I know that you’re with me. Surely Your goodness and Your mercy follows me. My weapons are praise and thanksgiving. This is how I fight my battles.” When I’m going through something really difficult – I mean those painstaking, flesh inducing, want to give up type of trials – I sing worship.
Sometimes I’m crying so hard, all I can sing is “thank you, Jesus” But as I’m worshipping through these trials, I mediate heavily on 2 Kings 6. I literally picture the Syrian army surrounding the Israelite city. I picture the prophet Elisha and his servant standing there, seeing the mighty Syrian army and all their horses and chariots surrounding Israel. The servant is afraid and looks to Elisha and says, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Elisha’s response makes me fall on my knees, humbly before the Lord, with thanksgiving for all He has done and all He can do. Elisha responds with, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Yes!!! Child of God – those who are with you are more than those who are with your enemy!
If Yahweh is with you, who can be against you?!?! (Romans 8:31). Then Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened, and the Lord opened his eyes and the servant saw that God’s heavenly army was, in fact, surrounding them (2 Kings 6:14-17).
When I’m walking through a trial, I praise God and picture His mighty hands surrounding me. I ask Him to open my eyes as He did for Elisha’s servant. Sometimes, in His goodness, He opens my eyes and shows me how He is working the situation for His glory. But sometimes, in His goodness, He doesn’t show me. After all, faith is believing God’s Word no matter what. Being a follower of Jesus Christ is exactly that – following Him, despite our feelings our circumstances. And He allows us to walk through trials to build our faith in Him.
The Apostle Peter explains, “in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuine of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7. The true test of your faith is – can you still be found giving Jesus praise and honor though you are grieved by various trials? I, for one, will not be out praised by a rock (Luke 19:39-40). I will lift my song of praise for all He has done. This is how I fight my battles.
Tiffany Gustafson
#EverythingUnderTheSon
