Converting Life's Trials into Deeper Faith

BY: Anonymous

“Open his eyes, Lord, that he may see.”(2 Kings 6:17 NIV) The prophet Elisha prayed those words for his servant as an enemy army surrounded their city. The Lord enabled his servant to see the “hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17 NIV) Elisha’s servant was suddenly able to see what Elisha already knew: that God was protecting them and was going to bring victory in a seemingly hopeless situation. Elisha then prayed, “Strike this army with blindness,” and the Lord “struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.” (2 Kings 6:18 NIV) 
 
Elisha’s situation would have been easy to look at the enemy army surrounding the city and to desire to run away in fear or try to surrender. What enabled Elisha to stand with such bold faith against such a desperate situation? Elisha’s eyes were not set on what the enemy was doing but on what God was doing. Elisha saw that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16 NIV) His perspective was the key to his faith.
 
Every day, even in the small things, we have the choice to be strengthened in faith by considering the works of the Lord or to surrender to fear because of the enemy we face. 
 
Like some of you, I work multiple jobs in order to support myself and my child in the absence of financial support from my prodigal. I regularly work several weeks in a row before having a day off. If I allow my attention to drift to thoughts like, “I have to work so much,” or, “It wouldn’t be like this if my husband were home,” then I quickly feel overwhelmed and crushed by the weight of the world. 
 
Suppose I choose instead to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). In that case, my contemplation turns to how the Lord has blessed me with a sound mind, education, employment opportunities, and skills and abilities that I can use to honor Him by serving others while earning an income (Colossians 3:24 NIV). When I shift my focus to what God has done and is doing, my eyes are opened to His mighty power and goodness at work in my life. My perspective is an invitation to faith. 
 
I have found that perspective determines whether my circumstances cause me to feel defeated or victorious, to experience despair or hope. 

I can choose to look at what the enemy puts before me to discourage me. Through the years, I’ve had to face adultery, substance abuse, separation, false starts, divorce, turmoil in my child’s life, and a non-covenant marriage. There have been difficult trials, but through every valley, the Holy Spirit has enabled me to choose to look at what God is doing. He has shown me the mercy to know Him, to receive the call to stand, to be able to join together with Him in extending the love of Christ to a prodigal soul.

I can choose to have a bold faith that the God that sent His angel armies to deliver Elisha is the same God whose angel armies are fighting for my family. It’s a faith that comes from a change in perspective.