Watch The Video Version Here: https://youtu.be/2ky3DZBk1bo

"What to do when you don’t know what to do."

The Opening Illustration: The Impossible Rescue

The sermon opens with the dramatic true story of the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue. Twelve members of a youth soccer team and their coach were trapped by monsoon floodwaters deep inside a cave system.1

• The Dilemma: The situation was impossible. The water was rising, the boys were trapped miles in, and professional Navy SEALs were struggling to navigate the currents.

• The Solution: It required admitting they couldn't save themselves. They had to call in outside specialists (cave divers and an anesthesiologist). The risky plan involved sedating the boys and dragging them out underwater—something that seemed impossible but was their only hope.

• The Spiritual Bridge: Just as those boys were trapped and helpless, we face moments in life where we are "between a rock and a hard place," powerless to save ourselves.

The Biblical Context: 2 Chronicles 20

The sermon transitions to the story of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.

• The Situation: Judah is being surrounded by a massive alliance of armies (Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites).

• The Crisis: Jehoshaphat is afraid.2 He is outnumbered, outgunned, and facing a "monsoon" of enemies. He cannot fix this problem on his own.

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The 4 Steps: What to Do When You Are Powerless

The preacher outlines four practical steps based on Jehoshaphat’s reaction in 2 Chronicles 20:

1. Assess the Problem (v. 1-4)

You must distinguish between problems you can fix (like putting antifreeze in a truck) and problems that are beyond your human ability.

• Key Takeaway: When you realize the problem is bigger than you, stop running around trying to fix it and making a bigger mess. Admit you are powerless.

2. Communicate & Focus on God (v. 5-12)

Jehoshaphat "set his face to seek the Lord." This wasn't just a casual prayer; it was a total shift of focus.

• Key Scripture: "We are powerless against this great horde... We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (v. 12)

• Key Takeaway: When you don't know what to do, you need to know where to look. Focus on the One who can solve it.

3. Listen (v. 13-17)

Communication is a two-way street.3 After praying, you must listen for God’s answer. God speaks through:

• His Word: The Bible.

• His People: Wise counsel and other believers (Proverbs 11:14).

• The Message Received: God tells them, "Do not be afraid... for the battle is not yours, but God's."
  
  

4. Worship (v. 18-21)

Before the battle was even won, the people bowed down and worshipped. They sent the choir out in front of the army.4

• Key Takeaway: Worship God not just for the outcome you want, but because He is worthy. The result of this worship was that the enemy armies turned on each other and destroyed themselves.

The Conclusion

The sermon concludes with the comforting realization that while we are on the battlefield, the battle ultimately belongs to God. Just as the Thai boys had to trust the divers completely to carry them out, we must trust God to carry us through "valleys of the shadow of death."