Not My Battle

The day started off peaceful, quiet, with the sun shinning through the windows of our bedroom.  I felt the peace and quiet in my spirit too.  But it was not to last.

My husband had been nursing a cold all week.  Not a big deal—unless you are a vocalist and scheduled to lead worship at three weekend services.  Lead worship.  It’s a big responsibility.  Leading people to the throne of Jesus to worship.  It’s an honor.  And really, to a musician, it’s a privilege and joy to have such an assignment.

But why now?  Why Lord?  You know what’s at stake here.  Over four thousand people coming between tonight and tomorrow with expectations of a beautiful worship experience?

“This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…….You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 (paraphrased)

As I sat on the couch taking in the words of these scriptures my dear friend had just texted me, I heard a sound. A rare, but familiar sound.

Drip, drip, drip.

I jumped up.  Drip, drip, drip.

Where is that coming from? Drip, drip, drip.

Just super.  The dripping water was coming through the dining room ceiling.  The floor above is the master bath shower where Matt was steaming out his congested sinuses before heading to church.

Seriously?  We are in a bit of a panic already.  Now this.

“Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.”

Then I heard another sound.  This one more familiar.  A weather alert beeping on my phone.  Now a blizzard warning for our side of town.

Yes, we need the snow in Denver.  But seriously the timing couldn’t be more off.  We had invited guests to Saturday night church.  Dinner at our house afterwards.  And now Matt barely had a voice.  We had a nice leak inches from the dining room table.  And a blizzard on the way.

“The battle is not yours.”

Those words rang through my head again.  I was a little shocked actually.  I’m not one to feel peace in a moment where everything seems to be falling apart.  But I did.  Those words from 2 Chronicles.  They were making all the difference in this moment of uncertainty.

Twenty four hours have passed.  Our guests loved church, and dinner with them was delightful. The leak has stopped, and a plan is in place to fix it.  Matt’s voice was a struggle all weekend, but he managed, and it’s possible the kind church goers didn’t notice.  Well, the few that braved the slick roads to make it to church. And the blizzard.  It’s a doozy, with the brunt of the storm yet to come.

We are home.  Together.  A fire is burning in the fireplace.  Matt is dozing on the couch. Life is good.  Uncertain at times, but good.

I wonder if the key to having faith in times of uncertainty is to take our positions—whatever they may be.  Stand firm—in what we do know to be true.  And then to watch—watch as God delivers us from the mess.