Overcoming intimidation

Scary situation:

If you have ever felt intimidated by a problem or a situation that seemed too big to handle, that is not a good feeling. We have all had them. Intimidation stems from the desire of someone or something to exert control over another person. Effects such as stress, anxiety, shyness, and depression come from intimidation. Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived, experienced these effects of intimidation when he first took the crown. In 1 Kings 3, he told God that he felt like a child in front of such a great kingdom (1 Kg 3:7). Intimidation will try to tear down everything you think you know and make you feel helpless. Throughout history, Satan has used intimidation as a tactic to cause God’s people not to do the work he has set out for them to do.  For example, Satan used Goliath to intimidate Israel, and the giants in the promised land to intimidate the spies. He tried to intimidate Jesus in the temptation in the desert. The scriptures tell us that our struggles are against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).

1 Kings 3:11-14

¹¹ And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

¹² Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

¹³ And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

¹⁴ And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

God knew that Solomon was struggling and he needed help, so he told him to ask for whatever he needed. God knows our every need, but he wants us to ask. Matthew 7:7-8 says, ^“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Most of us have asked God for many things, but for him to help with the root of the problem (Jh 16:24). Solomon could have asked God to take away those intimidating forces or to give him the resources to eliminate them, but he did not. The root of Solomon’s problem was internal; he needed to mature and reach a higher level of capacity. And that is exactly what Solomon asked for, for God to give him wisdom and understanding so that he could handle the intimidating factors. 

God gave Solomon exactly what he wanted, because it was within his will. And, because Solomon asked according to God’s will, he gave him almost everything else that he did not ask for. The scriptures say that all the nations of the earth brought Solomon gold and riches. One thing Solomon did not ask for, which is what every person wants, God did not give him: the length of days. Solomon was going to work on getting his days lengthened. The only way his days were going to be lengthened was if he walked in God’s ways (Prv 3:1-2) and kept his commandments (Jh 14:15). 

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