Do Not Be Afraid or Discouraged

Trust God to see you through whatever comes your way

Photo by Ed Jarrett

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

2 Chronicles 32:7–8 NIV

King Hezekiah and the nation of Judah were faced with the threat of Assyria. They had invaded and were advancing on Jerusalem. The future looked bleak for Judah. But Hezekiah gathered together the leaders of Judah in Jerusalem and encouraged them with these words.

Assyria was the dominant world power of the day. No one had been able to stand up to them for many years. Sennacherib had a vast and powerful army that had steamrolled its way through that part of the world. And they had earlier destroyed Judah’s sister nation, Israel.

But like Elisha before him, Hezekiah saw more than the physical forces arrayed against him. He knew that the king of Assyria had only human forces with him. In contrast, Judah had the Lord God to help them fight their battles. No matter how strong Sennacherib’s forces looked, they would be powerless before the God of Israel.

The people gained confidence from what Hezekiah said, and they remained steadfast. And in the end, the Lord sent an angel who annihilated the army of Assyria (2 Chr. 32:21).

God may not always annihilate your enemies. But He always cares for His people and will, in the end, deliver them and keep them safe in Himself. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Trust in God to see you through whatever may come your way.

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