Your Chariot Awaits

I have always loved the Biblical story of the prophet Elisha and his servant. One day they found themselves in a city under siege. The servant was deeply distressed when he observed that they were surrounded by the entire Syrian army with no hope of escape.

“Alas, my master! how shall we do?” he cried.

Elisha answered,

“Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”

At face value, Elisha’s reply must have seemed like nonsense to the young servant. How could he and his master number more than an entire army? But then Elisha asked God to share his prophetic vision with the young man.

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. – 2 Kings 6:15–17

Like Elisha’s servant, we typically do not have access to a complete view of reality. We know, though, that the Lord can open our eyes to a greater reality. But if we candidly acknowledge our limitations and then humbly seek the Lord’s assistance, he can broaden our vision.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a powerful witness:

“In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham’s seed”

– For Times of Trouble, New Era, Oct. 1980, 15 (emphasis added)

Whenever I sing the hymn ‘The Spirit of God,’ I am often nearly too emotional to sing. For me, one of the most powerful phrases of the song is ‘We’ll sing and we’ll shout with the armies of heaven,’ We are in fact, literally, surrounded by the armies of heaven, who are singing with us. I’ve felt this time and time again. I know it is true.

Never forget that those that be with you – to support, guide and save – are always more than those that desire to harm and destroy you. – MoSop