In II Kings, the Assyrian army under Sennacherib had come up to Jerusalem and threatened Hezekiah, the king of Judah who was besieged there. Hezekiah’s reaction to the Assyrian threats is a model for our response in times of difficulty:

Chapter 19:1 tells us that when Sennacherib’s messengers first threatened him: “When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the LORD.”

Then when Rabshakeh, Sennacherib’s general sent an ominous note, verse 14 says “Then Hezekiah took the letter … and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.”

In both cases, Hezekiah took his difficulties before the Lord: he entered the house of the LORD; he spread the threatening letter before the LORD. This is just what we should do with the things that are troubling us as well. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Some of us would have to admit that we have fallen somewhere short of Hezekiah’s response — perhaps by responding personally to the threat or difficulty, or by taking it somewhere other than to God? Let’s follow Hezekiah’s example, and take whatever is bothering us to the same God who miraculously worked on his behalf. “Take it to the Lord in prayer”!