Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

In the particular Japanese translation I’m using it says “boast of” where the English says “trust in,” and the image rose in my mind of young guys boasting of their “wheels.” Since it’s talking about military equipment it’s equally, if not more, applicable to governments talking about their weapons of all sorts. The point is that who you serve is far more important than the tools you have. Militarily, the Bible is filled with stories of people who triumphed with “inferior” equipment because they were depending on God. David with his sling against Goliath is probably the most famous of these, but there are many more, all the way down to the jawbone of a donkey! (Judges 15:15-17) All of us are involved in conflicts of various sorts, whether we view them in those terms or not. Many people fight illness with the latest medicine but forget that healing comes from God. It’s not wrong to have the best equipment in any struggle, but we must remember that victory is in God’s hands. If we want to stand firm, as the next verse talks about, our focus needs to be on God above and before everything else.

This is an extremely timely reminder, given recent developments in my wife, Cathy’s, health picture. The thing is, the problems themselves are not new, but with shifting diagnoses, treatment for one thing conflicts with another, making for confusion and anxiety. We are to respect and listen to the various doctors involved, but remember that we serve the Great Physician, and refuse to be anxious. That is easier said than done! We need God’s wisdom for what treatments to accept on what schedule, knowing that His plans are to prosper and not harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11) At this point Cathy is very tired of seeing so many different doctors, but there too we need to remember that they are simply members of God’s team, and keep our focus on Him rather than them.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for each doctor and support person. I pray that their interaction with us would draw them to You as they see Christ in us. I do ask for wisdom as we evaluate all the various recommendations, and I pray for Your schedule for it all. You know the things we have planned, and how important they are for us, and You also know what is the very best for us. Help us rest in that knowledge, trusting You even when we can’t see what is best ourselves. Help us operate at all times wearing Your armor and trusting in You, so that we may stand firm indeed, (Ephesians 6:13) for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!