The Lord God has a watchful eye over us, because we are His children. When He called us, He did it in His will and wisdom so that we do not come short of fulfilling His purpose. No matter who we were and how, when He chose us for His Son, we are the most benefitted people on earth owing to His indispensable nature. It is known from the following words. “And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has been fighting for you” (Josh. 23:3).
The reason our enemies or enemy is at bay or in defeat is because God fights for us. Sometimes we do not immediately realize the protection we received, but we latter understand from the events that take place. In times when evil works mightily to down trod us, we lose courage; our confidence too is at a lowest point. Yet, it does not mean that He left us. It only means He allowed the battle to get fierce so that He can once more show Himself as the mighty and the trustworthy. He does not allow the enemy to completely annihilate us. There were many times when Israel feared defeat and even death at the hands of the enemy. Yet, at a crucial time the Lord intervened. Sometimes they did not even fight the battle to win it. In our case too, when we see a situation that has every tendency to breed and take over us, we are encompassed with fear; our strength becomes pale and our faith rattled. But the Lord will interfere at a crucial time. It is His nature toward the people He chose. Since He has called them children, He will not forsake them.
The knowledge and experience of having the Lord fight our battles is crucial to lead a humble life, the basis for a faithful life. It is for this reason also that He wants us to face battles. He allows the enemy to appear before us. He allows frightening and unyielding circumstances into our life. And sometimes we even take a step backward. The Enemy might even touch us with his wicked ways and we may not show ourselves strong in faith as before. In all this the Lord helps us understand who we are; He helps us understand our imperfections. Then, we realize Him as the only source of our salvation for any circumstance and turn to Him for help. He fights and wins our battles. At times while walking in faith, we have a tendency to unconsciously take pride in it. It is at this time the devil wants to hit us and sometimes God allows it. And for the learning we must receive, we fight a battle and eventually win it by His power.
Taking hits in life is not uncommon. It is a way to perfecting ourselves for obedience to God. Each one has a different nature and accordingly God deals with us so that we are eternally saved. In this process we learn that without Him we are nothing; without Him we haven’t won a thing; without Him we can’t take a step forward and every achievement of ours is because of Him. The fears, tears and sorrows we face during our struggle against the Enemy, sin or circumstances teach us that He must be feared and that He is the only way out. When Solomon prayed with all his wisdom at the dedication of the temple, He said “then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men” (1 Kings 8:39).
God knows us collectively and individually. When we cry to Him for help, He sees the truthfulness in our asking and comes to our rescue. If by a mistake of ours we brought trouble upon ourselves and we seek His help, He Himself will deal with us and rescue us. Through forgiving us He takes charge to fight our battles. If by the wickedness of the enemy we are caught in the thicket and we call upon Him, He rescues us. No matter the kind of situation, if we seek Him sincerely, He saves us. What is impossible to men He makes it possible. “When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter” (Esth. 5:2). God turned the heart of king in favor of Esther. On that day, though it did not as yet appear to be the case, the Jews won the battle, for on that day God began fighting the battle for them. The preliminary work the Lord does for us is a sign that He accepted our prayers and we are on our way to victory.
Again, David said the following. “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD” (Ps. 130:1). Whether he was under suffering, fear, attack, sin or in weakness, he turned to the Lord with a sincere heart. From an unworkable or hopeless situation he called on Him with all his heart, soul and strength. He never once saw Him reject his supplication. If we are to overcome the world and its tantrums and if we desire to enjoy the victories the Lord gave us and remember them for strength and confidence, we ought to constantly call on Him. Even in the weakest phase of our life, if we display the knowledge and will to call on Him, we have known Him as one that rescues us, and we will be saved. And so, keep the following in mind.
- The Lord never fails. Whatever He speaks to us for the better of us, it will come to pass. For through prophet He said, “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,’’ declares the Lord GOD” (Ezek. 12:28). He will render to us according to our ways and we will learn and be satisfied.
- The Lord sees our need. “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins ‘– then He said to the paralytic, ‘Get up, pick up your bed and go home’’” (Matt. 9:6). He performs marvelous works for us so that we understand the forgiveness received. Sometimes we can know we have been forgiven by the things He does for us.
- The Lord is all-powerful. Never distrust His power to save, protect and help. We ought not to apply our limited power to our wisdom and think to have understood the way He deals with us. Instead, we must forget ourselves and look toward His mighty power and willingness. “And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb” (Luke 24:2). He rose from the dead; none were able to stop it from happening. He conquered death and the Enemy. His sole purpose is to save, protect and help us.