"The Lord cannot do much with a crushed soul, hence the adversary's attempt to push the Lord's people into despair and hopelessness…" Streams in the Desert
Do you remember the story of Elisha and the king of Syria?
The king, tired of being thwarted in his battle plans by Elisha, sent out "horses, and chariots, and a great host" by night to camp around Elisha's town.
They had planned, no doubt, to destroy his entire city just to get rid of this man of God who "telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in the bedchamber."
Elisha's servant was an early riser, and as he went out, he discovered the huge army camped around them. He came to Elisha with the question,
"Alas, my master! how shall we do?"
(Can you sense the panic, the desparation, in his words? He thought they were doomed. He could not see a way out, and had no hope of a rescue.)
Elisha told him to not be afraid because the men who were for them were many more in number than the men who were battling for the king of Syria.
No doubt the servant was confused and dismayed by this answer, since all the fighting men were out fighting with the king of Israel.
Then Elisha asked the Lord to open the eyes of the servant, and when God did just that, the servant saw "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
Sometimes we see no hope in sight. We see no way for good to come out of the horrible reality that surrounds us.
We must remember that God has infinite and innumerable hosts camped around us.
He has not left us defenseless in the battle of life.
We have not been abandoned by His grace and mercy when our hearts are breaking.
God's plan is unfolding. His will is being done. He loving heart is preparing the way for His Glory to be shone in the midst of the turmoil surrounding us.
Father God, please open our eyes, so that we may see by the eye of faith, the path for victory and deliverance that You lay before us.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107:26-31
Obtaining Mercy 