Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.” 1 Kings 20:23
Note God’s response: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”
God used the Arameans’ words to deliberately reveal his character to his people and let them know wherever the battlefield he is still Lord. Sometimes we do something similar to the Arameans, we limit God by thinking he’ll only help in a big crisis, not a small one, that he’ll only help in a spiritual crisis, not a physical one, or he’ll only help if I’ve prayed, meditated or fasted for a long time. Sometimes we place limits on God’s ability to protect ourselves from disappointment. Just in case, God doesn’t answer in the way we hoped.
Yet God wants us to know whatever situation he is Lord. Whether he answers our prayers in the way we want or not, he is Lord. Whether things are going well or we’re struggling with problems, he is still Lord. Whether we’re on the heights of joy or in the depths of despair, he is still Lord.
As our faith grows, so does our view of God. There is more at stake than our comfort. God’s plans are bigger and better than we can imagine. He will allow circumstances and difficulties to push the limits of our faith so we will know whatever the situation, he is Lord.
