THE VALLEY OF BERACAH

The story of Jehoshophat as he faced the huge multitude that was ready to fight against Judah is in my top ten list of favorite Bible stories. It may be that even in my journal pages entered before today, I have shared my thoughts already. Today though, I must put down "on paper" what has blessed me from the passage in II Chronicles 20.

Today, as I sat at my computer, typing away on my book that tells of my first five months after Ken went home to be with the Lord, I came upon my own words about how God used his death to accomplish some things that before seemed impossible. My heart has been heavy today, burdened with new impossibilities. My words encouraged me, but I was compelled to leave my place at the computer and fall on my face before the Lord.

I'm not sure how long I prayed and wept before Almighty God. Much of my prayer was for me, just so weak and struggling with lack of faith and fear. With my Bible open, with tears flowing, I went to the great accounts of God's mighty power one by one, accounts that have strengthened me time and time again, reminding Him of His promise to work powerfully on behalf of His children. I reminded Him of His nature as seen in the pages of history.

"It is Your nature to destroy the enemy," I said. "It is Your nature to fight for Your children. It is Your nature to meet the needs of the depressed and discouraged. It is Your nature to move heaven and earth as in the story of Barak to accomplish Your purposes." On and on I went in desperation, partly because of the enormity of the impossibilities facing me but partly because of my own struggle to believe God and know Him well enough to not doubt Him.

These times spent with God are deeply necessary for me. The battles are sore. So the preparation and fight cannot be casual. God says He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Those who seek Him will find Him if they search for Him with all their heart.

Above my bedroom door are His soothing words, "Be still and know that I am God." At the end of my stirring time with Him, I needed those words. I laid on the floor, my Bible open to Jehoshophat's prayer. I almost know it by heart now. I meditated upon it and the marvelous story for a few minutes.

My thoughts went to the end of the story. Jehoshophat held a prayer meeting with everyone in attendance. He cried to God. The prophet assured them that they would not have to fight this battle. This battle was the Lord's. They went out the next day without spear, shield or sword, only a song of praise to God. The enemy, the Bible says "helped to destroy one another."

With the enemy destroyed, the people went to gather the spoil.  Three days it took! Now here is what I have been trying to get to all along. "On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord."

This is what God gave to me today, there sprawled out upon the carpet before Him. I am to believe that someday my hurting family will someday be joined around the table and will sing our family song together...Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father. It is what happens after a victory. Satan desires to kill and destroy, and to be honest, I have lived in fear and even casualness as he whittled away at our family. But when God brandishes His right arm and the victory is His, the people can sing.

We will come to the Valley of Beracah. We will sing together as a complete family. We will sing and bless the Lord.