Jeremiah 39:1-2
“In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.”
Retreating is always a sign that you’re losing a battle. During the Battle of Monmouth, George Washington came across troops from Major General Charles Lee as they retreated from battle. George Washington was appalled by the troops retreating and demanded from Lee why the retreat was ordered. He found the answer from Lee was unsatisfactory, so he ordered his troops to go forward against the retreating force, which eventually led to the British troops retreating in defeat. Though Washington saw troops that were besieged and broken, he still went forward and won a monumental battle in the American Revolution.
We find in the verses above that Judah was besieged and the city broken by Nebuchadrezzar’s army. The result of this besiegement led to many of the people fleeing. Yet, there were a group of poor people who would not leave their city, and would rather die than to be under bondage to this king. This action led God to allow them to stay in the city because they trusted Him.
Do you find times in your life when you feel like you are besieged and broken? It is always very tempting to sound the retreat, but you must not. Just like Washington knew that forward is the direction to go when fighting, you must not let the Devil’s attack cause you to sound a retreat in your Christian life.
When you are besieged and broken by health, let me encourage you to keep on going. Just like those who stayed in Judah trusted God, you must trust Him and not sound a retreat. Your health may seem to be breaking down, but let me encourage you to keep going and not sound a retreat.
When finances seem to have besieged and broken you, don’t give up. You may not know how you are going to pay your bills, but there is a God in Heaven Who is watching and seeing if you will trust Him.
When the world has besieged and broken you with their temptation, don’t quit! It can become weary at times trying to fight the world, and you may see others sounding the retreat, but you must keep going forward because you are on the winning side.
I don’t know what your situation is that you face today, but let me encourage you to keep on going. In times of besiegement and when the enemy is trying to break you, keep trusting God and He will bless you. Victory never comes through times of ease, but through besiegement and brokenness. While others retreat and give up, you must keep going forward and trust God’s Word that He will never fail you. Don’t let the retreat of others discourage you. Trust God and you will see the victory.