“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 2 Kings 6:16-17 (NLT)
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom. 8:31 (NIV)
Dear heavenly Father, sometimes like Elisha, we get overwhelmed at the odds stacked against us in life—whether we’re having to deal with a large number broken people, hard storylines, or fresh heartaches; or whether a school of circumstantial-piranha are nibbling away at our energy and joy; or whether it’s just one big heart-zapping difficulty that’s exhausting our resources. Whatever the scenario, you understand; and you are with us and you are for us.
As you did with Elisha, open our eyes to see your angels placed all around us. Quicken our ears to hear you singing over us and let us feel your everlasting arms under us (Deut. 33:27). Compel our hearts to know that greater is the One who is in us than the one that is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4). Indeed, Father, make Jesus the biggest, most beautiful, and most unavoidable reality in our lives right now—even if nothing else changes.
Help us steward our vulnerability and weakness well. Help us resist “carpetbaggers,” offering snake-oil remedies and empty promises of quick relief. Help us run to the throne of grace regularly, and to members of our “gospel posse” quickly. Thank you for good friends, and loving sisters and brothers. Life can’t be done alone.
We praise, bless, and adore you for being our very near and full-of-grace Father. You are here; you are in control; and you will win the day. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ triumphant and tender name.
