When Your Life Feels Threatened

Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” 2 Kings 1:2

I won’t get into the details, but a while back, something happened that caused my family and I to feel somewhat threatened. In response to this potential threat, I responded in ways that I would consider to be quite normal. I reported it to the local sheriff’s department, I consulted legal counsel, and I asked advice from a friend in law enforcement. At the same time however, my wife and I were doing a Bible study with some good friends, going through the book of James. In the opening verses of his book, James taught that when we experience trials, we must consider these opportunities for growth. We must go to God, asking how to respond, what we must learn, and how he wants to use those tough times to shape us.

As we were discussing the chapter, I realized that I’d not been taking this particular life trial to God in the way that James prescribed. Sure, I asked God to protect my family and remove the threat, but I’d not viewed this as an opportunity for personal growth. I knew James’s teaching and I knew that I was supposed to do, but when a big life trial came, I dropped the proverbial ball. I’d done everything with that trial . . . except the one thing I was supposed to do with it.

Often, with life’s trials, we do everything except the one thing we’re supposed to do. This is illustrated by Ahaziah, king of Israel, in today’s passage. The narrative tells us that Ahaziah was a wicked king, worshipping foreign gods and encouraging his people to do likewise. So, it’s no surprise that when he was injured in a fall, he sent messengers to his pagan god, praying for divine guidance and intervention. As the political and spiritual leader of the Israelites, Ahaziah should have taken his trials to God, modeling authentic faith. Instead, when the big life challenge came, he did exactly as he’d done in all the days leading up to this defining moment – he turned to his false god.

How do I perform in times of crisis and trials? Tough times will come. Am I prepared? How I perform in the big life challenges depends on how I’ve been preparing for them. If I listen to James, then daily, when I face little trials, I will go to God, asking how he wants me to respond. Then, I’ll likely do well in the big trials. If, however, I’ve taken my little trials everywhere except God, then when the big challenges come, I’ll likely fail. Today then, and every day, I must practice taking all my trials (no matter how big or small) to God, asking his will. God wants me to rely on him, using the tough times to grow me into what he wants me to be. Daily then, it’s my job to take my trials to him.