Do you ever read the Bible and feel like you can relate to a specific person or issue? While reading the story of King Ahaz in Isaiah chapter 7 I had one of those experiences.
Although I am not living in the early 700 B.C. era, I am not a man, and most definitely not a King, I found myself relating to him. Upon hearing that nations had joined forces to attack Jerusalem, the Bible say that “the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.” (Is. 7:2 ESV)
We’ve all been there… on a hiking trail or in a park, when suddenly the wind picks up, blowing through the trees, rustling the leaves and bending the boughs; the sound of the leaves crackling and clapping together as the wind moves them wildly. This picture so clearly illustrates what took place in King Ahaz’ heart when he heard terrifying news.
Ugh. Fear. I can relate to that.
In a brief moment there’s an inner churning, a gust of panic that invades your insides and instantly fills your mind with worry, doubt, panic… fear. (So this is what it’s like to be a King in 700 B.C. Huh.) These winds of fear can knock us off our feet.
Thankfully we can protect ourselves from these devastating gusts. After receiving a message of comfort and encouragement from the Lord in verse 5, “Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint…” Ahaz is warned in verse 9, “If you are not firm in faith you will not be firm at all.” Unbelief equals instability.
Faith equals stability.
When we choose to live in faith, believing the truth of God’s Word over what our natural circumstances are showing us, our faith truly becomes the anchor of our souls, grounding us from being blown away by the winds of fear that swirl all around us.
As you go through your day today, let these words encourage your faith,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
