“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians.” (2 Chronicles 16:12 ESV)
King Asa began his reign with wholehearted trust in the Lord. In his earlier years, he cried out to God and relied on Him for victory against overwhelming odds (2 Chron. 14:11). But as his reign progressed, Asa began to lean more on human strength. When confronted with a military threat, he turned to political alliances and wealth rather than to the Lord (2 Chron. 16:1–3). And even when God sent a prophet to rebuke him, Asa responded with anger and pride instead of repentance (2 Chron.16:10). By the end of his life, his feet were diseased, and still he refused to seek the Lord. His spiritual decline was mirrored by physical affliction. Though he once walked with God, he no longer did. The tragedy of Asa’s life was not how he started, but how he finished.
We are reminded that finishing well matters. It is not enough to begin with zeal if we grow complacent or proud as time goes on. Asa’s life warns us against trusting in wealth, alliances, or even our own strength. God is always looking for those whose hearts are fully His. Will we be among them? We may begin with faith, but we must continue in it. And when trouble comes—whether sickness, hardship, or correction—will we humbly turn to the Lord or stiffen our necks? Asa points us to our need for a better King. Jesus never faltered in faith. He trusted the Father fully and finished the work given Him (John 17:4). In Him, we are given not only a perfect example but the power to endure to the end (Heb. 12:1–2). Let us keep our hearts fully trusting in Christ.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to us, even when we falter. Help us to trust You fully and not to rely on our own strength. Teach us to seek You in every circumstance. May we finish well, by keeping our hearts steadfast in Christ. In His name we pray, amen.