Where’s God And His Help? - Hope in Worst-Case Scenarios

“‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that 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 6:16-17, NIV)

Ever been blindsided by bad news?

One day, you’re on the phone with your dad; the next, he’s in the hospital.

One week, it’s same old, same old at work; yet the very next Monday, HR cuts your position.

One year, you’re celebrating an anniversary—in your marriage, at church, or in remission—but flip over the calendar and you’ve signed divorce papers, your church doors have closed, or a routine scan reveals your worst nightmare has come true.

We aren’t the only ones who have had the rug pulled out from under us. Have you meet Elisha?

One night, he went to bed in peace; the next morning, his servant went outside and was met with enemy troops, horses, and chariots surrounding the city.

NOT EXACTLY A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES.

He sprints back inside in his skivvies, and in complete helplessness, shakes Elisha awake shrieking, “What will we do now?” (2 Kings 6:15).

Maybe you’re asking the same thing today too. Because of _________, you’re caught off guard, facing a battle much bigger than yourself, and with no plan of attack, clear next steps, or resources at your disposal, you’re panicking. “WHAT DO I DO NOW?”

Don’t miss it: Take your eyes off the shaking servant and narrow in on Elisha. Instead of giving into panic or crumbling into despair, this guy hasn’t flinched or budged an inch. Rather, completely calm and totally collected, he reassures his servant blowing in a bag, “Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs!” (2 Kings 6:16).

Are you scratching your head too? Looking out the window, we can count along with his servant, and sure, we may not be good at math but 1, 2 vs…1, 2, 3, 4…yeah, how’d you get to that, Eli?

Elisha doesn’t even dignify that with a response. He just waves his hand. “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” (2 Kings 6:17). And that’s when his servant looks up and sees an entire hillside around Elisha filled with horses and chariots of fire.

SAY WHAAAAAAAAT.

To be clear: God’s angel armies surrounded Elisha and his servant as they slept peacefully the night before and when their enemy camped out on the nearby hillside just as the rooster crowed. Circumstances looked worse the next morning, but spiritually speaking, circumstances remained the same.

Elisha could see this whole picture, but his servant could not.

What do we see today? Only our physical circumstances with our dilated pupils? Because those thousands of soldiers fully trained to wipe out the entire town by nightfall were what Elisha’s servant saw. Elisha wasn’t oblivious—he saw this too, but he also saw so much more.

God didn’t remove Elisha’s enemy, and the angel army didn’t slaughter the Syrians, either—both could’ve easily been done, and let’s be real, PREFERRED. God instead illuminated his presence and showed Elisha and his servant all the help they had in the spiritual realm—and that backing was all they needed.

Is it for us, too?

All odds may be against you, and things may not look great. But even when your demise may look probable, remember…so did Elisha’s defeat in the face of these Aramean soldiers. The only factor that matters, though, is God, who alone holds the final word, and we have the privilege and powerful position to look up to the heavens knowing He’s got our back.

O Lord, open our eyes and help us see.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you surround me even when I’m attacked. No matter what I see with my two eyes, I trust in your protective hand above all else since you are indeed greater, stronger, and higher than any other. In Jesus’ name, amen.