The Outcome of Battle

Proverbs 21:31

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD.

When I was in the Marine Corps, I was assigned to a unit that was directed to be ready for war in Central America. We trained continuously to handle conditions there and planned for what it would be like to fight an enemy in the jungle terrain.

We readied our equipment, trained our troops, and studied maps. The unit commanders would call us at two in the morning to show up at the base with our bags packed and gear ready to be deployed off to battle..only to inform us that this was a drill. We were as ready as we could be and we worked continually to not slack off and maintain that alert posture.

God’s Word here tells us to prepare for the battles of life, to do our best to be ready for the spiritual fights that happen, even to understand the schemes of our enemies.

We then say, “Ok, Lord, I have committed this path to you, so certainly you will make it work the way I have hoped.”

But this verse is also encouraging us that while we can do our best to prepare, the outcome is determined by God Himself.

We think that we know the results that would be right.

“Lord, I wanted that job. Why didn’t you give it to me?”

Is it possible that in the outcome of our efforts to make things happen, God closes a door and directs us another way?

Could it be that you had your sights set on developing skills for a job you wanted and now He wants you to use them in a different place?

Does He want this trial to continue for a while so that I can learn another lesson?

Here is where our trust in Him is tested.

Our attitude while we prepare should be one of diligence but tempered by a faith in the One who knows all things and watches over us. He knows what outcome is best for us.

He will go before us and fight so we need to prepare, be wise, do our best, and then quietly rest in Him.

He is working out a plan that not only covers the nations, but my life as well.

I can have peace knowing that my Commander in Chief governs the affairs of the world but will never forget what I need.

As a leader in my family, I need to demonstrate what it means to do my best and then trust the Lord for what comes next.