We humans, will do pretty much anything to avoid pain. Physical, emotional, it doesn’t matter, we hate it and avoid it at all costs. That is why the human instinct of fight or flight kicks in when we get scarred. When we sense danger or pain, our natural instincts kick in and we pick one, often completely subconsciously.
I think the same tendencies occur emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
In flight vs. fight, my fight is stronger. I fight for me, I fight for others, hard. Sometimes, I think this is a good thing, especially when it comes to other people, but other times it goes way over the line.
What do I do when I sense pain ahead? What do I do when I sense loneliness, betrayal, a difficult season or other fears?? I fight it, in every way I can. I fight with my words, my actions, my thoughts and my emotions.
Others are really good at flight, they shut down. They don’t like confrontation, they don’t like the work and the effort. If they sense these same things, they peace out, shut down. They don’t see the situation as good, beneficial to them, and they don’t want anything to do with it.
That’s not me.
I will pursue to the death to fix something. Fight even to tears to feel healed, heard and loved, or make someone else feel that way.
Maybe you don’t know how to stand your ground, maybe you run away in fear too quickly. Or maybe your fear causes you to fight, feeling like you are the only option, the only one who is seeing the battle.
Too often, neither one of these options are the correct response. Too often, the Lord is actually asking us to stand, and let Him fight for us. Simply be, who He has made us to be.
In 2 Chronicles 20, a battle was about to take place. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were under attack, so they sought the Lord. Jehoshaphat cried out in front of his people to the Lord, asking for His help and direction. He didn’t know what to do, the enemy was surrounding and fear was kicking in. But there is a key line in Jehoshaphat’s cry, one that I believe shaped the outcome of the battle.
“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (Vs. 12)
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
He looked to His Lord for answers and directions, in the midst of fear, he chose to look. Do you know what the Lord told him to do? He told him to stand.
“Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah and he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” (vs. 13-17)
Stand still.
Wait.
Hold your ground.
Be firm in me.
Look and see.
Do not be afraid.
Do not be discouraged.
How many times do we actually do this? How many times when a frightening situation comes up, do we allow our natural tendencies to kick in and we fight or flight, without going to the Lord?
What would have happened if Jehoshaphat would have just picked one without seeking the Lord?
Fight : They probably would have all gotten killed.
Flight : They would have never seen the Lord work on their behalf.
They key to Jehoshaphat’s success, was to seek, to look at the Lord, to ask and finally, to stand.
I know for me, it’s sometimes hard to believe that someone would fight my battles for me. It’s not really a thought I think, what if God wants me to wait, and watch Him do something on my behalf? Fight for me.
But he does, he wants to fight for you and me.
Sometimes, God might ask us to go to battle. Sometimes he may say back up and sometimes he might ask us to stand firm, to watch him work. The point is to ask, to fix our eyes on him, to acknowledge our need, to acknowledge his strength. And then to obey in whatever way he says. No more immediate reaction.
It’s time to look up, to seek, to listen, to obey, and to watch God work.
