Entering the Fog of War

How does God want us to handle tumultuous situations in our life? Do we flee, or do we regroup and attack with His love and peace?

John 11:54-57

54 Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him.

At this point, everyone is poised for what is to happen. Those of us who already know the story of the crucifixion know what is coming. However, as these events were unfolding, nobody knew what to expect. Jesus had been doing the unthinkable and had been in the face of the Pharisees the whole time. He was a Jew, yet has been blamed for doing things such as working on the Sabbath. This is the third Passover time that is recorded in the book of John, the previous two He attended. Now that there was a “warrant” out for His arrest, they wondered how He would react.

How would you handle this situation? Would you go to the Passover, which is required of all Jewish men? Would you confront your accusers and fight for your rights? Or, would you ask God what He wants you to do? I believe we encounter situations like this all the time. Maybe we ticked off a few family members and the next holiday get-together is approaching. What if there is some drama you got mixed up in at work? Maybe you got into a disagreement with someone at church. Whatever the situation, we occasionally find ourselves amidst the decision of whether we should go or not. What shall we do?

I have found that God usually wants us to enter those situations. He wants to send us as His agent to be a light in the darkness. This doesn’t necessarily happen by us just showing up and trying to “be nice.” Rather He calls us to rely on Him for guidance and discernment. It is with a prayerful heart that we enter these situations. This is where we get to embrace the “peace that surpasses all understanding.” When bullets are flying, bombs are exploding, and people are seeking to kill you, God gives you a calmness that lets you speak with His words to cut through the fog of war.

What situation is God calling you to reenter? How can you approach it in a way that honors Him?

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