A few weeks ago a new battle began for us; well, really not a “new” battle, but a battle that had lay dormant for about 10 years, suddenly raging without warning, consuming our thoughts and minds.
Everything came to a head on Sunday morning. I was considerably distracted, and, although present in church, I failed to really hear the message. My husband and I were stressing about the situation.
Prior obligations on Sunday afternoon kept us from talking more about the situation, but when I had a few moments in between those obligations, I sat quietly in my car and watched the beginning of that days’ sermon from a pastor friend of ours that streams live on Facebook each week. Coincentally, or not, the topic of his sermon was ANXIETY. I watched about 5 minutes before I decided I needed to watch it with my husband later that evening.
My next obligation was accompanying our pastor for a service at a local senior resident building for a service we do once a month. My aunt and uncle were coming to our house for dinner, and my mother had asked if I might be able to find someone else to play for the service that day. Coincidentally, or not, it had not worked out, and I needed to fulfill my obligation. I sat down at the baby grand piano and began to play music for prelude, and God’s peace began to flow through my fingers. I realized it was the first time I had actually breathed all day.
As our pastor began his message, he read from 2 Samuel 23. Coincidentally, or not, he talked about facing battles that seem impossible to win. This piqued my interest and I listened intently. (It was, most likely, the same message he gave at our own church in the morning, but I had been to distracted to focus then).
“These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.” 2 Sam 23:8 NIV
Other examples where God fought a battle came to my mind as i sat and listened, emotions welling up inside me. David and Goliath, Joshua and the battle of Jericho. During his sermon, he said, “Stand your ground, in Jesus’ Name and watch what He will do for you”. It was during that time that i realized that i was there, in that place, at that specific moment in time so that I would hear the message that God had for me – that He is fighting our battles. I knew it was not a coincidence that i couldn’t find a replacement to accompany our pastor that day. I knew that it was not a coincidence that i had a few moments before that service to hear a few words on anxiety.
We are in the thick of the battle as we speak, but we are standing firm in Jesus’ Name, watching eagerly to see what God does. We know that we belong to Him, and He has our back.
Journey-For-Life 