When Your Back’s Against The Wall
Scripture: Psalm 37:25; Second Chronicles 20:1-18
The title of my message this morning is “When Your Back’s Against the Wall.” This message was inspired by my brother, Rev. Barry Johnson, January teaching letter titled “God’s Instruction for Victory.” If you are one of the recipients of his teaching letter then this message will be a refresher for you. Thank you Barry for sharing the Word!
Let’s take a moment and talk about what it means to have your backs against the wall. The origin of this term is not fully known but there is some agreement that it most likely originated within the military. The phrase originated from a situation when a person is in a fight and his back is against the wall. In a military battle if you are forced to retreat to a point where you have moved back as far as you can go and you can no longer move forward without encountering the enemy, it was said that your back was against the wall. While you could not be attacked from behind, you also could not move forward without coming under attack. This situation only applied when one side greatly outnumbered the other – the one’s whose back was against the wall would be the one outnumbered. In our lives we use the term when we are in a bad position and/or situation in which we are forced to do something in order to avoid failure. In these situations our options are limited and we can no longer delay our response. We have to do something. We have to make a decision. We have to choose. And many times, we make the decision to do something even though we feel we are not truly ready to do it.
Last week I shared with you that what we do in life, we choose to do. I want you to remember what I shared last week because when our backs are against the wall how we respond to whatever it is pushing us against the wall is up to us and no one else. And believe me when I tell you that there is a biblical way to respond, which is the correct way, and there is an emotional way to respond, which usually worsens the situation. In my message last week I mentioned that I lost my job back in 2014. I shared briefly how that worked to my favor. This morning I want to take you on the journey I went through personally between the time being laid off and when it worked to my favor because it was during that time when my back was against the wall.
In April 2014, my baby sister Kim had a heart attack resulting in a bad burn to her leg. When she was admitted to the hospital for surgery, I flew home to see her. While I was in Tennessee, I received a message from my job letting me know that there was going to be a National call with my division that was scheduled for that Thursday. Immediately everyone suspected that a layoff was coming. Sure enough on that call they announced, that based on the performance and changes within the market, they would be laying off part of the sales force. When I heard this announcement the Spirit told me that I would be laid off. I had survived several layoffs since 2004 so I prayed that I would survive this one. Even though the Spirit told me that I would not, I prayed that I would. Why? Because in my mind I was walking in FAITH! Even though the Spirit had told me the outcome, in my mind, I actually thought having faith could change things. People, this was not about my faith! We were told that we would be notified on June 26th if we had a job or not. So for two months I worked in limbo, praying to keep my job while preparing to lose it. The book of James says a double minded man is unstable in his ways, his thoughts and actions. That was me – praying for one thing but preparing for another – and I was doing it knowing the decision had been made! When I shared the news with Nikki she said that she too knew that I would be impacted. You would think that if the Spirit told both Nikki and I the same thing that I would take comfort in the next journey of my life – but that was not my response. I prayed to keep my job. I want you to see this clearly. God in His grace and mercy told me that I would be laid off. He was preparing me so I could take comfort in knowing that He had me. However, I “chose” to respond in a different way. I was asking God to change the outcome. I was telling Him that I did not believe what He had told me. In other words, while I was trying to walk in faith, I was walking in unbelief because I refused to accept what I know the Spirit had told me.
Remember the verse that I shared last week that we should choose to remember when we experience hard times in 2021? It was from Psalm 37:25. It says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his offspring begging bread.” I knew in my heart that God would take care of us but I had to stand on this Scripture because that “other” loud voice was doing a great job of trying to convince me that He wouldn’t. I will confess to you that from April to June 26th I was not focusing on this verse because for me I was standing on the belief that I would have a job. It’s amazing how we confess that we are walking with God and then He tells us something that we don’t want to hear even though it is to prepare us for what’s coming and then we pray and ask Him for something different. I spent two months not believing what God had told me.
On June 26th I received the phone call from my director informing me that I was laid off effective August 26. I was given my 60 day notice of my separation from the company. When I received the word I was numb and wondering how could this be. I was bewildered because I had been praying to my Father in faith for a different outcome. This was hard news to hear even though deep within me I knew it was coming but chose not to accept it. People that I had worked with who kept their jobs all of a sudden were no longer talking to me. Even though I was employed until the end of August, I reported to no one and if I had a question about the separation process I had no one I could talk to other than the Human Resources department. Part of my separation package included access to outplacement services where they help you work on your resume and interviewing skills. They also offered group meetings to discuss ideas and what was working for others. I attended a couple of those but it was too depressing. I listened to stories of people looking for jobs for months and not landing anything. As I heard one sad story after the next Satan tried to convince me that I would also be sharing this same story with the group in the weeks to come. God had told me that I would have a job within 30 days of my last day at my company, but it was hard to see that as I listened to the testimonies of these other people who had been looking for months. Their stories became more real when I too went on interviews and did not get the job that I was very qualified for. On one hand I was walking in faith but on the other hand I was dealing with the realities of looking for a job when you’re past fifty years old. My back was against the wall. Not because God did not have a plan for me, but because in “my” mind I was quickly running out of things I could do. Let’s all admit something, okay – when things aren’t moving the way we want them to move, don’t we want to help God out?
I almost lost the battle that Christ had already won for me. Satan had so penetrated my mind with his lies that I was feeling far away from God. In my mind, I was the Gentile described in Ephesians 2:12 – “you were without Christ….strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” There were times when I felt just like this! When you have not prepared yourself beforehand, it is very difficult to stand against the enemy’s attacks. Until then, my life had been one of minor disruptions – the ones that you feel don’t require divine intervention. I had experienced several layoffs with different companies and I was always retained. I thought I was ready and was in a good place. But you know what – you really don’t know until you get there. This morning I want to use the story of Jehoshaphat to show us how we can choose to respond when our backs are against the wall. Turn with me to Second Chronicles chapter twenty.
In Second Chronicles chapter twenty, King Jehoshaphat had safely returned to Judah after nearly losing his life at Ramoth Gilead. In Chapter nineteen, he helps Judah “turn back to the Lord, the God of their fathers” (verse 4) by removing the idols and personally visiting the people. He then appoints judges in the fortified cities to administer the law of the Lord and settle disputes. Jehoshaphat was the son and successor of Asa, king of Judah. He also was an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:8). In Second Chronicles 17:1-6, we learn that Jehoshaphat sought God and walked in His commandments and, because of this verse 5 says “the Lord established the kingdom in his hand.” One of the things we see in Jehoshaphat’s life is he had a humble heart and a relationship with the Lord. When our backs are against the wall, this is where our victory begins – with a humble heart and a relationship with the Lord that’s nurtured and developed by spending time in His presence.
In chapter twenty, men learn of the Moabites and Ammonites planned attack against Judah. They hurry to Jerusalem to tell the king. Look at how Jehoshaphat responds in verse 3. “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” His first reaction was one of fear – which is a human response when your back is against the wall. However, his next response was borne out of a relationship with God. Jehoshaphat turned away from the problem and turned towards God versus turning away from Him. He turned away from the problem to the Problem Solver and proclaimed a fast. The word “seek” in verse three is significant because it shows the relationship that Jehoshaphat had with the Lord. The word means “to enquire or consult” someone before making a decision or taking action and then being humble enough to follow their advice. As I think about his second reaction following the fear response I see that his response was different from mine. After my initial fear reaction of losing my job, I did not turn to God as He did and wait for an answer. No, I prayed and then went to work looking and applying for jobs. Now that was good that I was seeking a new job, but here is the problem with my response — I actually applied for jobs that I did not want just to hurry up and find a job out of fear. That, my friends, was not a faith filled response! I had forgotten the comfort and assurance the Spirit tried to give me by telling me that I would have a job 30 days after my last day of employment.
After proclaiming the fast and gathering others to be in prayer with him, Jehoshaphat stood before the people and called upon the Lord. Look at what he said in verses six through nine. “And said, ‘O LORD God of our fathers, are not You God in heaven? And rule You not over all the kingdoms of the nations? And in Your hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand You? 7Are not You our God, who did drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8And they dwelt in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9if, when evil comes upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Your presence, (for Your name is in this house,) and cry unto You in our affliction, then You will hear and help.’” (2 Chronicles 20:6-9) In these verses Jehoshaphat acknowledges the Lord as the true and living God and as the covenant God that had given them the land. He tells the Lord that whenever they face calamity, the people will stand in His presence before the temple that bears His name “and cry unto You in our affliction, then You will hear and help.” (verse 9). In the presence of all Judah, the king reminds the Lord of His covenant relationship with Israel and proclaimed victory. Because of his relationship with the Lord, Jehoshaphat knew that Israel would be delivered. But he wanted the people to know what he already knew – that the Lord would keep His promise. There were times when I had doubts about finding another job, especially as the days and weeks dragged on. But I kept confessing my belief and reminding God that I was His. God never forgot me and did not need my reminder, but it made me feel better having the discussion with Him. And New Light, God encourages us to do that. In Isaiah 43:26 the Lord tells Israel “Put me in remembrance; Let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.” This also applies to the Church today. We see a similar instruction in Hebrews 4:16: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” This is what Jehoshaphat did and this is what I did. In my fear I got this one right – I went to God in my time of need.
The next thing that Jehoshaphat did was truly focus on the One who had the answer. He had to recognize and accept that he could not solve this problem. He had to acknowledge that only God could do it. Verse twelve records the following: “O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon You.” (verse 12) In his prayer to the Lord, Jehoshaphat did something most kings would never do – he admitted to the people that they couldn’t win this fight and that he didn’t even know what to do. How many of us are willing to admit it when we are in over our heads and we can’t figure out where to begin? It’s not a good feeling is it? But that didn’t matter to Jehoshaphat. He wanted Judah delivered from the hands of the enemy. We see again his humble heart.
Now I want you to focus on verse fifteen. After Jehoshaphat told God, in the ears of all Judah, that his eyes were focused on His ability to deliver them, God gave Jahaziel, a Levite, a word of encouragement and comfort for the king and all the people. Listen to God’s response to them: “And he said, ‘Hearken you, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, thus says the LORD unto you, ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.’” (verse 15) Jehoshaphat dismissed his fears, not because they were not real, but because he put his trust in the living God. When we’re in a tight spot, fear is a natural response. And, admittedly, fear did raise its ugly head when I got the news that I was laid off. But, I was able to set aside my fear because of my faith in God and His Word. When we act in faith, we make a conscious decision not to fear. We don’t let our emotions dictate how we will respond. When we act in faith, we turn our faces away from the problem and toward the Lord and His promises.
I want to close with what was recorded in verses sixteen through eighteen. It says, “Tomorrow go you down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” In verses sixteen and seventeen, God tells Jehoshaphat what he and the people needed to do. Instead of fighting, He tells them, “You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you …” (verse 17). The word of the Lord was simple: stand still and see salvation come. Waiting is not easy – even when things are going well. But when you’re under attack, sometimes you may wonder if there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. You may wonder if you really believe what you’re confessing. When we can trust God to be God and to wait on Him, then we are placing our worries and anxieties on Him.
Finally, after Jehoshaphat and the people heard God’s response, they bowed in worship. Verse eighteen says, “And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.” When the king and the people bowed in worship, they were taking up their positions. When we praise and worship God, we are putting ourselves in His hands and letting Him carry our anxieties. This is what I did from April through September 26th when I received my job offer. I praised and worshipped God and thanked Him for the job. But I also did something else: I asked Him to forgive me for not completely believing Him when He said I would have a job 30 days after my employment ended. New Light, that’s part of being humble with our God. Praise and worship are critical when we find ourselves in situations that seem hopeless. Trust me! When we praise and worship God, we turn our faces toward Him – we set our eyes upon Him and what He can do.
Every one of us at some point in our lives will experience a time when our backs are against the wall. We have run out of options and we do not know what to do. All of our failsafe responses are spent and we are in an unknown place. We have never been here before and our normal responses are not working for us. Our backs are against the wall. We have backed up as far as we can go and now the only way to move is forward. We cannot go to the left or right because neither will provide the answers we need – we must go forward. But how do we move forward in a situation that is so dire and the darkness so deep? How do we move forward when we are paralyzed with what could happen based on our current situations? How can we take a step forward when nothing seems to be working in our favor?
If your back is against the wall and you are asking these questions, please read Second Chronicles chapter twenty. If you are like me when your back was against the wall and you are able to look back on how you came through, read Second Chronicles chapter twenty. We all need to read this story and see how Jehoshaphat responded. Yes he experienced fear. Yes he experience anxiety. Yes he had to swallow his pride and admit to his subjects that he did not have the answer. His responses were that of a man walking on this earth. But he was also a man who had a relationship with God. He was a man who knew he had a God who had his back. We need to know what Jehoshaphat knew. We need to know God!
So the next time your back is against the wall follow Jehoshaphat example:
1. Do not allow your initial emotional response of fear paralyze you. Recognize it for what it is – a problem that you do not have the answer for. We do not have fear when we have solutions – we have fear when we do not. Do not let what you do not know at present rule your response.
2. Turn from your problem and turn to the Lord. By doing this you are submitting to God and recognizing that you are incapable of handling this problem alone. You need divine intervention and that will come when we seek the counsel of God.
3. Remember what God has said in His Word pertaining to His promises to you. Believe it. Remind yourself over and over until it’s settled in your spirit.
4. Remember whose responsible for fighting the battle. If it “your” fight then it’s your responsibility to determine the outcome. However, if you are turning it over to God, the battle becomes His and not yours. You leave it alone; step on the sideline; and watch God work. Honestly, watching from the sideline won’t be easy. But remind yourself that the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s!
5. Once you have done all this, give God some praise. Bow down in worship, not because He is taking care of your problem, but because He is your Father and deserving of your praise and worship. When you can praise and worship God while your back is still against the wall you are confirming that the battle is not yours but the Lord’s.
Imagine how the news of your deliverance will impact men and women who are facing similar struggles and feel their backs are against the wall. All of you knew of my situation and were praying for me and when God’s deliverance came, you all rejoiced and celebrated with me. And New Light, six years after the deliverance that my Father brought, He has brought me to a place that I had not imagined I would be six years ago. We serve an awesome God. I know that my testimony is different, yet similar to some of yours proving that God is working within all of us who call upon His name as His children. Truly we serve a wonderful God! Second Chronicles provides a powerful example of how God’s people responded when their backs were against the wall. When we’re faced with situations that initially fill us with uncertainty, stress and fear, this record can be a powerful reminder of how we should respond.
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
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