In this biblical account (2 Kings 6:8-19), Elisha’s servant wakes up to go outside in the coolness of the early morning. He is overwhelmed by what he sees surrounding the small town of Dothan. It is an army of soldiers who have come to take the prophet of God, Elisha, captive. In fear, the servant runs to his master and asks, “What shall we do?” It is at this pinnacle of the story when Elisha prays for his servant’s eyes to be opened so he could see into the invisible heavenly realms. With calmness and confidence in his Lord, Elisha tells his servant, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The servant’s eyes were immediately opened to see the great spiritual host of God’s warriors who outnumbered and surrounded the enemy at hand! I can’t imagine seeing such a visual demonstration of God’s grace and power, can you? It is here in the unseen heavenly where God’s angelic host does battle against the powers of this dark world on our behalf; where God’s manifold riches and every spiritual blessing await God’s saints in glory.

So what’s the lesson for us to take away from this story? I believe that both Elisha’s servant and the enemy learned about the power of God that day. We too need to see with eyes of faith that our battles are being fought all around us, just as it was for Elisha. It’s not about the events of life that seem like obstacles blocking our pathway, but how we choose to view them.

Some fresh heavenly thinking may at first be foreign to your thoughts, but soon, it will start to make sense. This new perspective will change how you live and think, and when the battles come, the fear will leave as quickly as you are able to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).

The Apostle Peter knew exactly what it meant to believe in the One he loved after He was taken up to heaven. “Though you have not seen him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8). This is where our love and faith collide and cause us to love him even more. We may not be able to see Christ right now, but one day our faith shall become sight. This is “faith” at its best.

Just like Elisha’s servant, will you see with eyes of fear, or eyes of faith?

Be watching for my next blog post, “The Joy of Life!