In Trials and In Ease

At that time, Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, "Because you depended on the king of Aram and have not depended on Yahweh your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand." - 2 Chronicles 16:7

In Chapter 13 of Second Chronicles we read where the king of Judah (and the people) leaned on the Lord and as a reward for their reliance, God gave them peace. Later on, Asa became king and he inherited the peace that had been won by the reliance of his ancestors. Unfortunately, peace and prosperity led Asa to rely upon his own counsel, to ignore divine wisdom and dependence upon the Lord, and to make an ungodly alliance with the king of Aram.

Prosperity and comfort are often the enemies of faith. When times are difficult we need God's assurance and make time to seek Him, but when times are good we may ignore these same assurances and move forward without His guidance. In trials, we are driven to the Lord by our desperate need. In ease, we must be driven by our discipline. Good soldiers train in peacetime to be ready in the battle. Good disciples must do the same.

Is this a peaceful time? Develop your spiritual disciplines, for new battles with old enemies certainly lie ahead.

Adversity has the same effect on a man that severe training has on the pugilist: it reduces him to his fighting weight. - Josh Billings