Mosaic (Aug 15)
- Amber Thiessen
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
"And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God" (2 Chr. 14:2)
Reading through the biographies of Israel’s and Judah’s kings, my heart always lifts when I come across one who follows God. King Asa was one of those rare leaders. He made reforms in the land, removed idols, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord. He fortified the cities and rooted out evil. God blessed the land with peace.
We admire leaders like Asa—men and women who pursue God wholeheartedly—and we long for that same devotion in our own lives. But it’s easy to slip into thinking that devotion to God will naturally lead to a life free of trouble. Our human nature gravitates toward convenience and comfort, and we can easily resent hardship simply because…well, it’s hard.
Only a few verses later, we read that Zerah the Ethiopian came out against Judah with an army of a million men and hundreds of chariots. Asa’s earlier diligence in strengthening the cities was not wasted—war was coming. And when it did, Asa didn’t lose hope. He cried out to the Lord with these words: “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you…” (v. 11).
Asa’s example challenges us. Times of peace are not meant for spiritual coasting; they are opportunities for preparation. Instead of growing complacent, we can use seasons of ease to deepen our roots in Scripture and prayer, nurture godly relationships, and address hidden sins before they take deeper hold.
Then, when the inevitable battles come—and they will—we will have learned the habit of turning to God first. Like Asa, we can cry out in confidence, knowing our trust has been cultivated and strengthened over time. This trust, nourished in seasons of peace, will prove fruitful and steadfast, like the tree planted by streams of water in Psalm 1.
What “peaceful” season are you in right now, and how might God be inviting you to use it for preparation—deepening your roots in Him before the next trial comes?
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