“Now, LORD our God, please save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know you, LORD, are God—you alone.” (2 Kings 19:19)
Have you ever felt powerless? Ever been in a situation where the odds seemed against you? In today’s passage, King Hezekiah is brought by the following troubling news: an invasion from the Assyrian Empire. At the time, the Assyrian Empire was one of the most feared nations. They were successful in conquering the neighboring Kingdom of Israel and looking to do the same with the Kingdom of Judah.
Facing a battle where his kingdom is the clear underdog, what does Hezekiah do? Instead of going to his trusted royal advisors or to the head of his army, he goes to God’s temple to pray.
What is the first thing you do when you’re facing a difficult situation? Do you try to figure out a solution by yourself? Or do you freeze up, losing the ability to make a decision?
If we’re being honest, we do not always seek God as Hezekiah does in this passage. Instead of seeking God’s wisdom through his word and prayer, we try to solve our problems on our own. But in reality apart from God, we cannot do anything.
The Scriptures constantly reveal how powerless we are. Because of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, we are all born with a sinful nature. God’s commandments require complete adherence, but we fall short of those standards on a daily basis. If we cannot save ourselves, what is the solution for us?
Thankfully, “God, who is rich in mercy…made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses…” (Ephesians 2:4-5). You are saved by grace alone, not based on your own efforts. Because of this, now as his adopted child, you can trust that God can deliver and guide you through trials. When we are feeling spiritually drained and weary, God invites us to go to him in prayer because he promises to give us rest.
It is through God that you have victory: whether it is from a trial or a struggle with a particular sin. Just as God answered King Hezekiah’s prayer for deliverance from the Assyrians, you can have the assurance that God can do the same with the difficult circumstances you’re facing. He may not answer your prayer immediately like he did with Hezekiah (19:34-37), but you can trust that he will work all things together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).