A Struggle You Can’t Lose

How often do you find yourself confronted by a situation or circumstance you can’t see any way out of? Maybe you have one staring you down right now? You are just about ready to throw up your hands in defeat. You’ve wrestled and struggled with it and it seems like giving up is about all you have left to do.

King Jehoshaphat got word three enemy nations were in route to destroy he and his people. They were heavily outnumbered and the chance of survival was nil to none. The Scripture says: “Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news” (2 Chronicles 20:3 NLT). Scared and fearing for the outcome, he turned to the Lord and declared: “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help” (v. 12).

Maybe that’s you today. The enemy is attacking relentlessly. The fear he has you under is more than you can bear up to any longer. You recognize you are powerless against his constant onslaught. What do you do? Where do you turn? How do you get relief? Jehoshaphat knew he was helpless so he turned to God and he cried out, “O our God, won’t you stop them?” (v. 12).

The Lord responded, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15). The Lord’s response to you in your time of struggle is to trust Him. He is the answer. He is the One who will deliver you and free you from the power of the enemy. When you place your trust in the power of God, your struggle becomes a struggle you can’t lose.

As Jehoshaphat moved out against the enemy, he turned to his people and confidently declared: “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm” (v. 20). As the story continues, we are told, “So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped” (v. 24).

When you learn to trust in the power of God, the struggles you are facing become overwhelmed and overcome before your very eyes. Those things that have created fear and doubt in your heart and mind are defeated before you ever arrive on scene.

The story goes that: “all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the LORD had given them victory over their enemies” (v. 27). It wasn’t enough for God to simply give the Israelites the victory as it goes on to say: “When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the LORD himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side” (vv. 29-30).

God never gives you a half-way victory. When God acts on your behalf, it will be done in great and glorious way that He may receive great glory from your overwhelming victory over your struggles.

Whatever you may be going through today, be assured you will not be left to go through it alone. The Lord will go before you to bring you through to victory. Your struggle is a struggle you can’t lose when you place it into the hands of the Lord. Simply trust Him.