Mon.’s Devo - Trials

Read: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Acts 21:1-16; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 18:8
Today we read that the same Assyrian army came up against Judah that had come up against Israel. They had completely conquered Samaria and taken over their land and displaced their people. That was their plan for Jerusalem also. The difference was the king of Judah trusted in the Lord and the king of Israel trusted in idols.
The enemy came in with threats and intimidation. They reminded Judah that no other nation had been able to fight the Assyrians and win. They were taking over the world.
Hezekiah had told his people not to engage in conversation with the Assyrians and he sought Isaiah for advise. The king himself had clothed him and his kingdom in sackcloth and prayer. Isaiah told him not to worry because God would defend his own name. They had defied Him saying that their gods had been stronger than any of Israel’s gods, but they had not met the God of Judah.
Hezekiah took all their threats and laid them before the Lord and he took care of it. God came down with his army and killed 165,000 of their soldiers during the night. The king went home with his tail between his legs and was killed by his own men just as Isaiah had said would happen.
This story is so relative today. When we come against a trial that is huge…like cancer, adultery, divorce or death we can either look at how it affected others and think that is our fate or we can trust in the Lord and let him fight our battle for us. The condition of our heart determines our outcome. It doesn’t always mean that our outcome is the one we want, but we can be assured that it will be the one the Lord wants. His ways and thoughts are much higher.
In Acts, Paul was on his mission to Jerusalem but still visiting his churches on the way. Many of the people with prophetic gifts perceived the persecution awaiting Paul when he got to Jerusalem and tried to dissuade him, but Paul could not be deterred. He was not afraid of being bound, beaten or put in prison for the sake of the gospel of Christ.
Paul was such an example of what the true Christian is suppose to be. We are not suppose to be afraid of trials. They will come. This life is not where we end up. It is our school to prepare us for heaven where all trials will be gone and our reward is waiting.
Lord, help us to fight the good fight and finish our course trusting in you.