What does tomorrow look like in our world? More specifically, what does tomorrow look like for your life and the life of your family? I can’t answer these questions, and neither can you. There is a phrase that is being bantered around these days when we discuss the future. We are being told we need to adapt to a “new normal”. To me, this is an oxymoron. If it is new, it is not normal; if its my normal, it’s not new. But I get the concept. Things are going to look differently than they do today. We may not accept this, but this is a truth even if we were not going through the pandemic that has gripped our world.
There is very little in this life on which we can count on to remain constant. We just don’t know what lies around the next corner of this life. We can plan for the future and should. But all our best plans are always subject to the circumstances that pop up in our lives over which we have no control. If you had told me two months ago that I would become a full-time televangelist, I would have said you were nuts. But that is what has happened as we have a “new normal” in how we worship together on Sunday.
In the middle of all the uncertainty that surrounds us, there is one constant on which we can depend. God is never caught off guard; never surprised by what happens in this world. He can always see what’s around the next corner and how it will impact our lives. Therefore, the principle we should choose to make part of our live is this. Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.
The hope of this principle is demonstrated for us in a great account of an event in the life of the Old Testament prophet Elisha. It is recorded for us in 2 Kings 6:8-23. I will summarize it here, but you should take time to read this passage for yourself.
Through the power of God, Elisha was able to discern the plans of the King of Aram who was at war with Israel. Each time he would set an ambush for Israel, Elisha would discern his plans and warn the King of Israel. This enraged the King of Aram which caused him to plot the kidnapping and death of Elisha. Early one morning, Elisha’s servant went outside and discovered the army of Aram surrounding the city. In his panic, he expressed the hopelessness of the situation to Elisha. The prophet’s response was one of hope and faith. In verse 16, he said, “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
On the surface, this seems like a ridiculous statement. The servant knew it was only he and Elisha in the house with an enemy army surrounding them. Then Elisha asked this of God in verse 17, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” At that instant, the servant saw the hills filled with horses and chariots of fire; he was able to discern the army of God prepared to fight the battle for him. God protected Elisha and his servant in a miraculous manner. I will let you read how God did it for yourself in verses 18-23.
The point is clear. God knows what we face each moment of each day. As men of God, we are assured that his army is stationed and ready to fight the battles and keep us from experiencing more than we are capable of bearing. We simply must choose trust in what God sees not the limited perspective we possess.