For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.
2 Chronicles 20:12
In a YouGov survey in 2019, a quarter of people said that Christmas made their mental health worse.
Obviously, that’s just a small sample of the whole population, but it’s a good indicator. One in four people is a huge number, but would it be that surprising if we found out it was actually a higher percentage? What about in Barlanark, or other schemes of Scotland, where statistics regularly show a generally higher struggle with mental health at the best of times? The stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness felt throughout the year can become overwhelming when the intensity of December hits.
Today, we meet a king called Jehosaphat, one of the few good kings of Judah. 2 Chronicles 20 begins with Jehosaphat being told of a ‘vast number’ of enemies gathering to fight against him and his people. They were outnumbered, outmuscled, and out of options.
Jehosaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:3
In the face of overwhelming fear, this king responded by crying to the Lord and seeking his deliverance. He called a fast for all the people in his kingdom who gathered to seek the Lord, and people came from all over to pray.
Jehosaphat then stood up and lead all the people in prayer.
Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you.
2 Chronicles 20:6
He began by praising the Lord, the God who rules over all things, and who is the mighty deliverer who had rescued his people countless times before. He stood in the temple that Solomon had built, and cried out to the Lord, trusting that his pleas would be heard, as the Lord had promised years before.
For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.
2 Chronicles 20:12
In a cry of helplessness, Jehosaphat laid it all on the line. He had no clue how to act other than by turning to the Lord.
The assurance came as the Lord responded through a man called Jahaziel, who spoke up from the middle of the congregation:
Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s
2 Chronicles 20:15
The armies of Judah were essentially useless, but the battle belonged to the Lord.
You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you…
2 Chronicles 20:17
They simply had to stand and watch the Lord do what seemed impossible, and he won the victory, defeating this huge enemy.
The lesson here is not ‘have faith and God will make things better,’ even though ultimately, he will make things better. God is still mighty and one day Jesus will return and trample all his enemies. Until then, though, he has promised that we will face hardship and difficulty in this world.
Christian life is a war.
It shouldn’t surprise us that Christmas negatively affects mental health. It shouldn’t surprise us as Christians when we face obstacles and difficulties. It shouldn’t surprise us when we feel overwhelmed, and don’t have a clue what to do.
Instead, we should expect these times to come and be ready to cry out to the Lord.
This Christmas may turn out to be horrible for you. There may be mental, emotional, physical or spiritual struggles that feel overwhelming.
There may be times when all we can pray is: ‘I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on you.’
That is faith.
It’s acknowledging weakness and complete dependence, and turning to the only one who can help. Jehosaphat did this, not knowing what the outcome would be, but he trusted the one who both knew, and orchestrated the outcome.
Jesus himself stepped into this war as a dependent baby, seemed to be defeated in weakness on the cross, but rose victoriously, reigns with power, and will return gloriously to trample his enemies of sin and death. Until then, we may be weary and overwhelmed, but we can always set our eyes on him.
Rejoice!
Written by Pete Bell
A thought to remember: Emmanuel is there for his people to depend on.
A bit more to read: 2 Chronicles 20
A question to ask: What do you need to utterly depend on Jesus for today?
A song to sing: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
For Reference: click here for YouGov Survey