How to Respond to a Crisis

One night at dinner my family analyzed the Old Testament story of Jehosheba. The quick summary is that a murderous woman named Athaliah made it her goal to murder all the heirs to the throne. But, for brave Jehosheba she would have been successful.

Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.(2 Ki 11:1-3)."

Jehosheba was heroic. She hid her little nephew and his nurse for six years. Discovery at any time would have meant horrible death.

My family and I talked about what had to be true of Jehosheba in order for her to save the life of her baby nephew. We concluded that in a time of crisis Jehosheba combined:

• clear thinking,
• faithful courage,
• and decisive action.

Our situations are rarely as dramatic as Jehosheba’s. But, you never know. Sometime soon you may find yourself in a tight spot. If you do, remember, that such moments call for courage, clear thinking, and decisive acting. Proverbs says, If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength (Prov 24:10). If you find yourself in a precarious position, whether physical or spiritual or emotional, some place that seems impossibly hard, then turn to Christ.

Think clearly,

put your faith in Christ,

and take action.

The Bible says that Christians are not of those who shrink back. We do not wilt in difficult times. We press on, persevere, move forward. Christ has given us all that we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him. You can do it, however difficult it seems.