Newly Opened Eyes

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18 (NIV)

One of the most jaw-dropping stories in all of Scripture is the story of a person who was given new eyes in the middle of his terror. I’ll be honest with you, girlfriends, I have wrestled with fear more in the last year than ever before. Things I had always counted on I realize are straw towers just waiting to be blown away. I have needed to be desperate before God over and over again. Today I woke up with the mountain of fear sitting right in front of me. My mind flooded with all of the “what ifs” that might happen in my life. I can be driven crazy in the anticipation of fear even though what I fear is not a reality or may never be. I wanted to share what the Lord brought back to my mind today out of Scripture:

8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”

9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:8-16 (NIV)

Oh, girlfriends, our souls need to hear from our Jesus these words: Those who are with you are more than those who are with them.
We need to remember what He has done for us in the past. We need to claim His faithfulness for our problems today because our God surely has been good to you and me. Jesus promised that He would not leave us as orphans, but instead that the Holy Spirit would come to comfort us. He cannot lie to us! Let’s pray for comfort today from the only One who truly understands our fears. We must ask for eyes of faith to see the truth that our God is mighty to save us today no matter what we are facing.

Jesus, open our eyes to see You in our fear! You are greater than any terror we might be facing, real or imagined. Comfort us with your Holy Spirit today.