It’s certainly been a while and for that I am sincerely sorry.
We have officially launched ourselves into what I call the season of legitimate, life-changing “lasts.”
By that I mean,
My LAST 3 weeks of work.
My LAST 4 weeks of college.
Everyday I think about the “Lasts” that are still to come before I leave.
My LAST day to see family.
My LAST day to sleep in my bed.
My LAST day of church at Harvest.
My LAST day to eat Chik-fil-a.
My LAST day to live my normal, American life.
I look around and am intimidated by what I see.
Marching armies, looking at me.
Faces aren’t smiling, rather staring blank through my soul.
Every stomp is like thunder rolling.
Every breath is as a rushing wind.
Their armor is confident, bold, and courageous.
It speaks greater than my ability and what I can do in my own strength.
How will I fight not just one, but the many armies that stand before me?
My desperation leaks through countless cries.
My heart is worried to experience the pain of goodbye.
I know it’s normal, but why is it so hard?
They are coming, gaining distance as my eyes can clearly see.
Tears and sweat rolling down my face in unison.
What can I do? What can be done?
Do I distance myself to make the pain feel less?
Do I pretend this isn’t happening?
Or Do I confront my emotions?
Questions and more questions.
How in the world do I deal with this?
I suppose that is up to me.
But in that choice, my results are directly reflected.
Partnered in my thinking was a man named Jehosophat. Let me tell you his story from 2 Chronicles 20.
3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.
4 So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.
5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. 6 He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?
8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name.
9 They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’
10 “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. 11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.
12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”
13 As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, 14 the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.
15 He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”
18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord.
19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.
20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”
21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:
“Give thanks to the Lord;
 his faithful love endures forever!”
22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.
23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.
24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.
25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.
27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies.
28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.
29 When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.
30 So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Alone not any longer.
Releasing my weapons into the palm of his hands.
The very hands that hold victory.
I fear no evil, for my God is with me.
I will go to his Temple, where His holy presence dwells.
Believing, He is my rescuer.
I don’t know what to do, but my trust in Him delivers peace.
I will not look to my own ways, but to those in which are greater.
I will remove my name from the battlefield, allowing Him to defend.
Raising the banner of love over my enemies, I will surrender my own agenda.
Giving up my need to fight in order to take my position, be still, and watch.
He’s not only with me, but HE WILL FIGHT FOR ME.
Amazed at his faithfulness. In awe of his power.
What would make me think I was ever alone?
Praises I will sing with every footstep they come closer.
Declaring for all to hear,
“Give thanks to the Lord;

his faithful love endures forever!”
For it is my GOD WHO REIGNS.
Victory is His and mine included.
Peace is delivered, and rest is granted.
Maybe it’s emotions.
Maybe it’s actions.
Maybe it’s your job.
Maybe it’s debt.
Maybe it’s your marriage.
Maybe it’s your sense of lack.
Maybe it’s your church.
Maybe it’s your unsaved family member.
Maybe it’s school.
Maybe it’s bad habits.
Maybe it’s wicked thoughts.
Maybe it’s people.
Maybe it’s yourself.
Maybe it’s, I dare say it, but God himself.
Maybe it’s ____________________________.
Whatever it is, my prayers is that you would join me in releasing that battle to the Lord for Victory will be yours, every time.
And as Jesus said to His disciples, he would say to you dearly beloved,
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33
