Our Battles Become God's Battles
Christianity is described as a spiritual warfare or as requiring us to be prepared for fighting on more than one occasion (II Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:11; I Timothy 1:18). This theme seems fitting given that much of the Old Testament is centered on a discussion of Israel and/or Judah's physical wars with neighboring nations. To really succeed and come out stronger, Godly men and women have always been required to keep their focus on God and their faith in Him.
When David went out to fight the great giant, he gave an impassioned speech before slinging the stone at Goliath's head and then killing the great Philistine warrior. At the conclusion of his statements, the young man said, "the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands" (I Samuel 17:47). Common sense told those who witnessed the killing of Goliath and those of us who read about it that David couldn't kill the giant. The thought of such a thing is preposterous. With God, however, it was not just doable; it was certain.
When the good King Jehoshaphat was preparing to battle the people of Ammon and Moab, he too was told something similar. "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's" (II Chronicles 20:15). Knowing that the battle belonged to God makes it of little surprise that the scriptures soon record the sounding defeat of God's enemies (II Chronicles 20:22).
Christians should always remember that we're involved in a great battle and that Satan wars against us. Christians should always remember, however, that the battle we're fighting is not ours. Instead, we are servants of the most high God who without fail has always protected His followers, delivered them from harm, and rewarded them for their allegiance to Him. Being a Christian won't ever be simple or be without costs. Knowing that the our battles are God's battles and that He'll always protect us should, however, serve as a great encouragement to each of us as we walk in His service each day.