Meditations on the Curve Ball

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Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. That is quite a name. He is one of a long list of kings in the old testament. Unlike some of those kings, he has quite a long list of good accomplishments to his credit.

When I am thrown a curve ball in life, the piece of Jehoshaphat’s story in 2 Chronicles 20 is full of things I need to remember. With Jehoshaphat as our teacher, let’s see what we can learn.

Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-4

Jehoshaphat was about to be overwhelmed. The armies of three different people groups were gathering to fight against him. It was a vast number of opposing soldiers, and they were already very close when the king learned of it.

That is when Jehoshaphat made the first great decision of this crisis: He sought the Lord in his fear. In fact, it says that he RESOLVED to seek the Lord. It seems this wasn’t his automatic response – he was probably shaking in his boots and wanted to panic and run—but with an act of will, he chose to seek God’s perspective on this situation.


And not only did he pray and fast, but he called others to do it with him. This crisis involved the entire nation, and he wanted to go to God as one united people.

When that curve ball comes at us in life, we may have a tendency to duck and run. Or maybe we just swing away, hoping to get lucky. But what if we follow Jehoshaphat’s example and seek God first. Our loving and generous God loves to provide wisdom and to show us the next step.

Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord.

What is your first impulse when a “curve ball” comes your way in life?

Spend time in prayer, seeking God’s wisdom and provision in your situation. Ask God to show you two or three friends who would be willing to pray for you as well.

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