Judges 6:16

New International Version (NIV)

 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

For meditation

Sometimes, we feel so weak that we cannot believe any assurances from God’s word. In our hearts, we know that He is faithful to His promises, but our circumstances convince us otherwise. Our problems are too many and insurmountable. Reality has set in; for God did not show up in time. But, wait! The clock says three minutes of injury time.

Remember Manchester United in that two quick goals in the three-minute injury time that gave them victory over Bayern Munich in the 1999 UEFA Championships in Barcelona? What gave them that confidence that stunned the entire world?

The jury is still out on that part, but we Christians can boldly declare that our confidence is in the Lord, our God. He decides the end of everything. Until He pulls the curtain over any situation, it is never over for us.

The game was over for Sarah and Abraham at ages eighty-nine and ninety-nine; or so they thought. But, praise God His word never fails. The two became parents to Isaac a year later (Gen. 21:2). Old age could not restrain God from blessing the couple with a child. It is proof that God can do anything He pleases beyond natural laws, because He is Lord over His creation. So, consider your situation in that light and see how much peace will adorn you in the turbulence of your life.

Again, consider Israel out of Egypt and at the Red Sea. Two mountain ranges flank them on both sides, a wounded Pharaoh with his best chariots on hot pursuit from behind, and the sea before them. It is over for Israel; but God! Moses stretches out his hand over the sea and it stands like brick walls on both sides. Israel walks through to safety, but Pharaoh and his elite forces drown (Ex. 14:10-31). Nothing is impossible to the Lord.

Now, Jericho is fortified and shut against the rag-tag army of Israel. They don’t know what to do. The Commander of the Army of the LORD rolls out His battle formation. They march around the city once in six days. On the seventh day, they go around it seven times. The priests blow their trumpets. The army gives a shout, and the huge Jericho wall falls flat on its face. Israel takes the city, and fear grips Canaan (Joshua 6:2-5, 20). Can you sense the power of your God?

Maybe not yet, so try David and Goliath. Israel is intimidated by this giant from Philistine. King Saul and his army shudder in fear. The teenager called David steps to the plate with his sling and five smooth pebbles he picked from the stream. He moves in the name of “the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel” (1 Sam. 17:45).  One sling shot, and the Holy Spirit directs the pebble to the forehead of Goliath. He falls face down on the ground – dead! You see, no giant in your life can stand against you with the Lord Almighty on your side.

So, tell me. Why are you terrified today? What has overwhelmed you? What is intimidating you?

One thing I know is that as a child of God, God’s “incomparably great power” is at work in me. The Bible tells me that His power is as the working of “the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realm” (Eph. 1:19-20). Therefore, I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).

So are you, my friend. Only trust the Lord, for it is not too late for you, and nothing is too powerful against you in Christ.

May His peace rest on you.

Shalom