King Asa - Part 1

King Asa was a good king. He had cleared all the idols and high places of worship to false gods, but was then set upon by a vast Ethiopian army. God came to their rescue in a miraculous way and now King Asa was returning to Jerusalem and he wanted his country to be at peace once more.

I sense there was a feeling of desperation in him as he gathered the people together. Yet God had shown Asa that He was with them in the battle. Had Asa forgotten that? King Asa led his people into a binding agreement that they should seek God. We read ‘And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul, and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around’ (2 Chronicles 15:15). What a wonderful sense of relief comes at the end of that verse!

We can all identify with the sense of relief that comes when we find something that we have been searching hard for and most of us know what it’s like when we can’t feel the presence of God in our lives. Part of the trouble is that we rely too much on our feelings – so many people will say “I can’t feel God’s presence” – but I sometimes wonder what exactly it is they expect to feel. When I’m away from my husband I can’t feel his love but I know he still loves me.

God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us and we need to allow that truth to penetrate deep into our spirits. I believe that for King Asa and his people the truth suddenly became a reality and they experienced God’s ‘peace which passes all understanding’ – you can almost hear the great sigh of relief!

If you are feeling distant from God today, just know that God is there with you and allow His peace to fill your spirit.

Prayer: Father God, there are times when I find it difficult to know that You are there. Perhaps in my head I know it, but inside I can’t feel Your presence. Today, I reach out my hand to You in love and trust and say “thank You” for Your faithfulness to me. Amen.