Prays In Times Of Trouble

Prays In Times Of Trouble

A HERO’S TALE

Like a runaway bulldozer, the Assyrian Empire was plowing through every nation in its path as it conquered much of the ancient Middle East in the eighth century BC. The Assyrians had swallowed up Babylonia, Syria, and Israel, to name a few countries. Then King Sennacherib, Assyria’s prideful, power-hungry ruler, set his sights on Judah (see 2 Kings 18:19-37).

The Assyrians steamrollered into the Promised Land and weakened Judah’s defenses by capturing all of its fortified cities. Next stop: Jerusalem, the capital.

Before attacking, Sennacherib sent three top officials to Jerusalem’s main gate to offer terms of surrender. The officers delivered a message from Sennacherib himself in which the Assyrian emperor arrogantly recounted all of his previous victories, blasphemed God as just another helpless deity that would fall to him, and predicted an easy Assyrian triumph. In short, he was saying, “Surrender or die.”

It was hard to argue. No one had been able to stop Sennacherib yet. And the sight of nearly 200,000 Assyrian troops surrounding Jerusalem was enough to make the bravest warrior’s knees knock. It looked like King Hezekiah and Judah were doomed.

In the face of great danger, Hezekiah responded as powerfully as he could: he prayed. Hezekiah rushed to God’s temple and pleaded for God to intervene.

God’s answer came quickly, miraculously, and powerfully. Before the Assyrian army could shoot a single arrow at Jerusalem, the Lord sent an angel who slaughtered 185,000 Assyrians. Sennacherib was forced to flee back to Nineveh, where he was eventually killed by two of his sons.

DECODING THE MESSAGE

Confronted by overwhelming odds, Hezekiah showed great faith in God and the power of prayer. Not many people would have responded that way. Even today, the world says that real heroes fight their own way through problems and dangers. You see it all the time in books, movies, TV shows, video games: “Don’t ask for help . . . just grit your teeth, clench your fists, and battle your way out.”

But that’s not what the Bible teaches us to do. According to God’s Word, true heroes pray on all occasions, including difficult ones.

When trouble comes, don’t worry or try to fix it on your own. Just cry out to the God who can do all things. He promises to answer in the way that’s best for you.

BATTLE PLAN

Memorize today’s verse. It’s a fantastic reminder of how to prayerfully respond to trouble.