“O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

In this amazing story King Jehoshaphat commanded the people of Judah to pray to God and fast after learning about a huge army marching against them. By the time the army of Judah arrived for battle the massive brigade was already demolished. God had caused them to turn on each other and fight amongst themselves until they were all destroyed.

Although the people of Judah were powerless to defend themselves against the multitudes coming against them, they were not helpless. They humbled themselves and admitted their powerlessness to God. Once they did this, He was able to intervene on their behalf.

If King Jehoshaphat and his army would have gone into battle relying on their own strength they surely would have been destroyed.

When we try to overcome our addictions, obsessions, and character flaws in our own strength they’re often too powerful for us. The proof of our powerlessness can be seen in the unmanageability of our lives: broken relationships, unstable emotional reactions, isolation, denial and deceitfulness.

We may be powerless over many of our struggles, but we are never helpless if we believe that God cares intimately about every detail of our pain and that He will intervene on our behalf when we cry out to Him for help.

Stepping out of denial and relinquishing control to God is the first step towards freedom and healing.

Jodie Stevens