Responsibly Not Responsible

Responsibly Not Responsible

Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15

THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH HAD GATHERED at the Temple in Jerusalem to fast and pray for deliverance. That’s not always what happens when God’s people get together in the midst of adversity. Sometimes they complain, lament, share their fears, and cultivate a spirit of dread. But this group had gathered to seek God—and God spoke. A prophetic voice pierced the air with an encouraging word: Don’t be afraid, don’t get discouraged, and don’t own the battle. It’s not yours; it belongs to God.

Relinquishing your battles to God can be a difficult process. Saying you are giving them to him is not difficult. Actually letting go of them is. But when you turn your battles over to God, they are no longer on your to-do list. God may still ask you to be involved, but the responsibility of victory is on him. He’s calling the shots, and he owns the outcome. The burden is no longer on your shoulders. You can relinquish the weight of it to him.

That may feel irresponsible, but it’s actually liberating, and God has fully authorized this freedom. It’s never a mistake to give him leadership in your life. You are more irresponsible when you try to handle on your own the things he has promised to carry. Moses told the Israelites to stand still and see God deliver them through the parted sea; God told David when and when not to go into battle; and Jesus accomplished salvation for us. In this case, God told Jehoshaphat that this battle was not the king’s or army’s responsibility. You have every reason to follow the same pattern and let him fight for you. In your actions, you may need to put yourself on the battlefield. In your spirit, you can rest completely in him.

Turn your battles over to God and then disown them. Yes, you’ll still be interested in the outcome, but you won’t have to make sure it happens. Your Father is fighting for you while you keep your eyes and heart on him. There is no better position to be in. He may allow battles to come, but he never loses the ones we’ve given to him.

The more we depend on God, the more dependable we find he is.