When Surrounded by Hopelessness...See Jesus! (1 Kings 6:8-17)

In this episode, we dive into the story of Elisha’s servant, who felt hopeless when surrounded by an enemy army. Just as the servant’s eyes were opened to see God’s powerful protection, we found solace in God’s Word, transforming our fear and pain into strength and hope. Join us as we explore how, in our darkest moments, Jesus is our ever-present help, turning our tunnel vision into a Savior-vision. Through this powerful narrative, we’ll discover the transformative power of trusting in Jesus, who never leaves us alone in our battles. Tune in to be inspired and reminded that no matter how overwhelming our struggles are, we can always pray, “Lord, just let me see!” and find our fortress and salvation in Him.

Transcript

Have you ever felt surrounded with no way out? I found a video on YouTube of a veteran who served in three different tours in Afghanistan. When he returned home after his third and final deployment what he uncovered was an enemy that was more deadly, more versatile, more numerous and he felt trapped with no escape. As he endured the psychological and emotional trauma of PTSD, reliving events in Afghanistan, feeling tortured every night by hallucinations that seemed so real, with no means to escape them. His self-worth as a man, a husband, and a father was deteriorating by the day. He looked for a way out, but everything he turned to seemed broken, the darkness pinning him on all sides. Even something like trying to read his Bible proved impossible. Every time he tried, the words just got jumbled, nothing made sense. The forces fighting him seemed too strong, too numerous, impossible to overcome. I’m guessing most of us here haven’t seen combat or seen life through the lens of PTSD, but I know you and I have felt trapped before. When we look into the eyes of the forces that want nothing else to tear us apart. We feel paralyzed. We know all too well what fear feels like. All you and I can see in these moments of entrapment is our powerlessness to escape.

I wonder if that’s what Elisha’s servant felt like. He didn’t know the full backstory of how enraged the king of Aram was at his mentor. He didn’t know the inner workings of how Elisha knew even the most private of communications that the king had. He knew of the deep hostility between his people and the Aramaens, but he had no idea about this covert mission to capture or assassinate his master. When he saw the horses, the chariots, the soldiers, no gap in ranks, completely surrounding him, everything he knew seemed lost. All he could see was fear, nothing more. 

It was a morning unlike any other in this servant’s life. He woke up early to see that beautiful sunrise that always reminded him of the Lord’s presence and joy, but as his eyes start looking down from the sunrise, all he can see was his downfall. No place to run, no place to hide, what could he possibly do?

Have you been there? Not with a physical army staring you down, but the even scarier enemy of Satan and the traitor that lives within you and me called the sinful nature. These enemies who want nothing more than to compel you and me into tunnel vision. A perspective that can only see pain, purposelessness, and powerlessness. Are you thinking back to a moment in your story when those three tragedies were all you could see? Emotional pain was all you felt? Is that tunnel vision how you see life right here, right now? When it comes to your struggle, your pain, do you feel alone with no lifeline? You try to ignore it, or to run to anything that can take your mind off of it, but it always results in a dead end. Feeling even more powerless, questioning your worth, no one there to listen, questioning if God really is the God of coming through for you?

Satan’s isolation strategy follows a fairly straightforward yet debilitating procedure. When life hits you and me with trauma, with confusion, with loss, with loneliness, he seeks to isolate and cut off our resources. He, in tandem with the old Adam, the old Eve, persuades you and me to think that no one could understand. No one could empathize. I’m alone. This storm is raging, but no one else will notice. After convincing you that your isolation is a part of your identity, then he shifts to lying about the people Jesus has placed in your life. Family can’t be trusted, church family would only judge or be shocked. Friends would be gone. Finally, after he’s surrounded with you with loneliness and distrust of those who love you, he finally desires to change your vision of the Lord. “Didn’t God say he would be with you when life’s storms raged?” “Didn’t he say he would calm those storms?” “Didn’t he say in Psalm 46 that he is your “ever-present help in trouble?” “Your fortress that cannot be shaken, who will never let you fall?” All you see is a lonely and helpless vision for your future. Your heart cannot help but cry out, “Lord, just let me see!” “Where are you?” “Why have you left me to face all these dangers on my own?” 

As his fate seems sealed, Elisha’s servant busts open the door back into their home. Can you see the scene unfold? Elisha, maybe just waking up, just starting his day, when his new and young understudy throws himself at his feet, and says the words of a human being who has given up all hope: “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” When he said this in Hebrew, the grammar was all jumbled, the words stuttering out of his mouth. The same words, so many Christians have stuttered and jumbled in their cries to the ultimate Lord. The same words the disciples felt as their boat nearly capsized, the same words that accompanied Paul as he faced death for his faith. How does God respond? What would Elisha say in this terror and entrapment?

Time slows down to a near halt. Elisha locks eyes with his servant and says something that makes no sense, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” As the words left Elisha’s lips, the servant must have had such a confused look on his face. “Is Elisha delusional?” “Is he unable to process what we have in store in the next 24 hours?” This prophet, this man of God, can it be true? Do we have more with us than the enemies that have us surrounded?

Have you had that same confused look on your face when you read in the Bible all the times God says “Don’t be afraid?” How can we not be afraid, Lord? I don’t see anything or anyone that can change my pain. Why give me faulty and imaginary hope? 

As the servant looks squarely at his demise, Elisha does something radical...he prays. He looks up, his servant’s eyes pinned on his every move, his ears perk up, and the prophet speaks, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” What that servant witnessed, human language cannot describe. His eyes, the mere second prior to this prayer, were tunnel-visioned on his hopeless state, now drank in thousands and thousands, an infinite number, horses, chariots emblazoned in fire surrounding them. No gaps, no holes, the power of the Lord enveloped them. His jaw drops, chills creep, tears of joy form. His eyes, no longer tunnel vision, but Savior-vision. His fortress surrounded him. The God of Jacob was with him. His eyes were opened. Has God opened your eyes too?

All of sudden, in your darkness, you see this marvelous light. As the storm thunders, you see a figure walking toward you. Not a metaphysical ghost, or a figment of your imagination, but the Lord Almighty. Jesus. As you observe your greatest adversaries, you see just how outnumbered they are. You see how your God knows their every move, just like he knew every move that the King of Aram was going to make before he even thought it. He knows the devil’s ancient strategy. A strategy he thwarted eternally. A God who walked in the darkness, in your darkness, who felt your loneliness, your helplessness, and casts you under the shadow of the cross. A shadow unlike any other, a shadow where a joyful light is found. When you are emotionally broken, when you feel like you have no hope, Jesus opens your eyes. He walks through the waves of chaos and confusion, and your eyes once closed tight to avoid seeing or feeling any more pain, he places his hands on them and gently opens them. All you see is him. 

And when you see Jesus through the Bible, through his actions, through the love of your Christian family, the storm goes away. The army against you retreats. There you are. You and Jesus. Joy restored, strength regained, vision renewed. Your God does not leave you to fend for yourself. He sends his angel armies to guard you against every single attack the Evil Foe brings. His power is insurmountable and his presence never leaves your side. When you feel yourself in the pit of loss, he climbs down and picks you up, and fireman carries you back to where your purpose, your value, your strength is found.

And as he carries you, you look beyond the enemy. You start seeing all the ways that God protects you and satisfies your need for security. Emotions are so fickle and so life-altering, but your Jesus is rock-solid and life-transforming. When you leave these church doors today, and the darkness swoops in, have no fear. Your fearless Fighter will win the battle because he has won the war. “He holds the field forever.” “One little word can fell him.” 

Lord, just let me see! Just let me see you! He will and he has and he does. See him on the cross. See him victorious from the grave. See him as the King on the white horse who will come back and make all things new. See him who makes you whole. See him in his Word written for you. Lord, just let me see!

Elisha’s servant saw, Paul saw, the disciples saw, and so did that veteran that I was telling you about earlier. He started listening to a Bible app on his phone and he couldn’t help but be affected. He heard God speaking to him. He found healing. His Lord opened his eyes. Every time those night terrors came, he listened to the Bible, his anchor tying him back to his reality. Jesus has opened your eyes too. See him in your most dangerous and scary moments. See his faithfulness, trust his strength. Make Elisha’s prayer your own. As your heart aches, close your eyes and say, “Lord, just let me see!” What you see will be more than you ever thought possible. Amen.