Help is Here

I love a good rescue. In most romance novels, after the darkest moment, when all looks lost, some heroism allows for a happily-ever-after. Sometimes it’s the hero swooping in and sacrificing something to save the heroine, sometimes it’s the heroine relinquishing her goal in order to protect the hero, or it could be both. Often it takes this black moment for them to realize they aren’t strong enough, smart enough, or brave enough to endure on their own, and that’s when readers should want to scream at the pages, help is coming.

In those real-life moments when our strength is spent, every solution exhausted, and our courage is defeated, it’s good to remember the servant of the prophet Elisha. Elisha had thwarted the King of Aram’s plans to attack the Israelites, so the King of Aram sent a strong force of troops, horses, and chariots to surround Elisha during the night. Elisha’s servant is the first one to discover they’re hedged in and about to be attacked.

I imagine him shuffling outside still in his robe with an earthen mug of coffee clutched between both hands, eyelids heavy with sleep. He stretches in the early morning sun with a resounding yawn. A glint of light reflects off something metal, and he’s instantly awake, staring at an army of men ready to kill him and his master. He backs up a step, his shaking hands sloshing his morning coffee when he hears Elisha step outside. The wide-eyed servant frantically whispers, “Oh no, my lord, what shall we do?”

Elisha probably issued his servant a confident, we-got-this sort of look and said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The servant must have glanced around, doing another quick count, and still came up with just two versus an entire army. Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, that he may see.” God revealed to the servant hills full of horses and chariots blazing with fire that surrounded Elisha, ready to battle against their enemies (2 Kings 6: 2-23). In a single moment, the servant moved from hopeless despair to an attitude of bring-it-on King Aram.

The chances initially looked bleak, but help had been there the whole time. God had those blazing chariots lined up before the servant even realized he needed help, and God has already prepared for our battle too. We must focus on the invisible, not the visible.

I pray that God will open your eyes to see the warriors He has ready and waiting. I pray your faith will remain strong even in the blackest moment, and may you always have an Elisha to confidently stand beside you and remind you, don’t be afraid. Help isn’t just on the way—it’s already here.

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