Daily Devotional

In the passage today’s verse in found, King Jehoshaphat is informed that a massive coalition army made up of Moabites, Ammonites, & some Meunites is marching toward Judah. Ever feel like the whole world is against you? Well, it probably wasn’t in the sense the King Jehoshaphat did. Because humanly speaking, they are hopelessly outnumbered. Yet, instead of trying to come up with some hasty backup plan, calling for shortcuts, or pretending like he has everything under control, Jehoshaphat stood before the entire assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, admits his total helplessness before God, and utters one of the most honest prayers in Scripture: "We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

It’s often said that moments of crisis don't determine who we are; the moments simply reveal who we always were. Pressure can act like a wind blowing against a house. Much in like the classic story of the three pigs, the big bad wolf doesn't just cause the straw or sticks to collapse—more importantly, the wolf exposes the shortcut foundation that was built long before he ever huffed and puffed.

When sudden trial or overwhelming stress hits our lives, that is not the moment we choose who we are going to be. By our default reaction, that moment will show us where our trust was actually anchored. If we’ve been relying on our own intelligence, control, or quick fixes, the crisis will leave us panicked and emotionally bankrupt. But by building the daily habit of fixing our gaze on God, the armies, the wolves, and the storms of life won't destroy us. Jehoshaphat’s power didn't come from having all the answers; it came from knowing where to look when he had none. The storm is coming. How’s your foundation?

The Response: Lord God, I confess that when pressure comes, my instinct is often to scramble for my own solutions. When I face situations where I feel outnumbered or out of answers, remind me to stop relying on shortcuts. Grant me the humility to admit my weakness and fix my eyes entirely on You. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.