September 5

The people of Judah found themselves in a terrifying situation. In Isaiah 36–37, the mighty Assyrian empire surrounds Jerusalem, mocking King Hezekiah and the people’s faith in God. The enemy's message is clear: your God cannot save you. The temptation to fear, to compromise, or to rely on human strength was overwhelming.

But Hezekiah does something powerful—he lifts his situation before the Lord. Instead of replying to the enemy in kind or rushing to a human alliance, he goes to God in prayer. He lays the blasphemous letter from the Assyrian king before God in the temple and asks for deliverance so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that the Lord alone is God.

Psalm 123 expresses a similar posture of the heart. The psalmist writes of lifting their eyes to the Lord, as a servant looks to the hand of their master. It’s a humble, dependent cry—waiting on God's mercy, especially in the face of contempt and oppression. When our eyes are fixed on God, we are reminded who truly reigns.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul warns believers not to fall into the same patterns of rebellion and idolatry that marked Israel in the wilderness. He reminds us that no temptation is unique and that God always provides a way of escape. Paul also calls us to be mindful of how our choices affect others. Our freedom should never become a stumbling block. We are called to live not for ourselves, but for the glory of God and the good of others.

These three passages paint a full picture of life under pressure—when fear presses in, when temptation knocks, and when obedience requires courage. The solution is not self-reliance, but surrender. God is not distant in times of distress. He invites us to lift our eyes, lay our burdens before Him, and trust His faithfulness to make a way, even when we feel surrounded.

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