2 Chronicles 16:9(NLT) tells us, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” This scripture in the Old Testament speaks to the vacillating hearts of men and women when it comes to their commitment to God. King Asa was the third King of Judah, and he is characterized to be a man of integrity. He’s known to be a man that was on fire for God and did things that were pleasing in God’s sight, but during the later days of his life, his faith wavered. King Asa’s example should serve as a constant reminder of what happens when we fully trust the Lord God, and the trouble we face when we do not.
During his reign, King Asa instituted significant reforms within Judah that pleased the Lord. He went throughout the land and ordered the removal of pagan altars and shines; he also put a stop to the sins that were associated with this idolatry. He instructed the people to obey God’s laws, and restored proper worship of our Heavenly Father. Because of this, God gave Judah peace from their enemies many years during Asa’s reign, giving them ample time to fortify their military and borders.
In the earlier part of his reign, King Asa modeled what it looked like to trust and believe God, but as he got older his passion dwindled. Instead of seeking the face of God for everything, he leaned upon self-effort. This is always a recipe for failure, and it was an extremely costly mistake on his end.
We must remember that nothing should come between us and our relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:38(NLT), “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.” In God’s heart, nothing will separate us from Him and His love, but in our hearts, this isn’t always the case. We will often make the mistake that Asa did, and allow our enthusiasm and excitement for the mercies of God to wane. We think we can handle the small stuff, but we need God in every detail of our existences. Only He can give us peace, joy, faith, and strength. It would be a huge mistake to think that we can have access to those yummies outside of Him.
Some people will go through very troubling circumstances, and instead of seeking the Lord for His divine counsel and asking Him to lead them through the situation, they say things like, “The Lord won’t put more on me than I can bear.” That sounds very pious, but it’s not accurate in the sense that God doesn’t put tribulation and trouble on us. Many have believed this, because they have been taught that God punishes us by putting heavy loads of burdens on us. Jesus Christ told us in Matthew 11:28 that he is the burden bearer. It would not make sense for him to put a burden on us, and then tell us to give it back to him.
We can’t fully trust that God is the Source of our strength and believe that He is the source of our trouble at the same time. These are contradictions, and they will not produce faith in our hearts. The eyes of the Lord comb the planet looking for people who know the truth and are standing firm upon it. We need God every moment of every day, in every situation, and on every hand. He will never leave us or forsake us, and we can place unwavering trust in His protection and care. When we line up with this truth in our minds and hearts, we will present a full commitment to Him, one in which He will continue to strengthen and reward.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Source of Our Strength”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.