“And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: ‘Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.’”
~2 Chronicles 16:7-9
I recently read this passage of Scripture, and I was both encouraged and convicted. I read it at a time when I was struggling to really trust the Lord. I realized that just like King Asa turned to other things for deliverance and security, so too I often do the same. I find encouragement as I realize that when I truly trust in and rely upon the Lord, He will be faithful to work out all the details of my life. He will be faithful to take care, to provide, to protect, to guide, and to give victory over the struggles of this life.
I looked up the word “rely” in the dictionary, and here is the definition: “To rest on something, as the mind when satisfied of the veracity, integrity or ability of persons, or of the certainty of facts or of evidence; to have confidence in; to trust in; to depend; with on. We rely on the promise of a man who is known to be upright; we rely on the veracity or fidelity of a tried friend; a prince relies on the affections of his subjects for support, and on the strength of his army for success in war; above all things, we rely on the mercy and promises of God. That which is the ground of confidence, is a certainty or full conviction that satisfies the mind and leaves it at rest, or undisturbed by doubt.”
I like that! I want to have confidence in, depend on, and rest on the Lord. I want to have full confidence in Him, to have my mind at rest, undisturbed by doubt, knowing He will come through for me.
Far too often I try to rely on other things or even on other people, and this causes great anxiety. In contrast, when I choose to rely upon the Lord, He gives me the rest and peace that I desperately need. My heart is so prone to wander and go after other things, yet He is always so faithful to bring me back to that place of reliance and trust in Him. I’m so thankful for this! ❤️
