Walking by Faith: Hezekiah – Faith That Prays Boldly

He received a letter that should have broken him. 

It was from the most feared king in the known world—Sennacherib of Assyria—who had already conquered nations and humiliated kings. Now he was threatening Jerusalem. The message was clear: “Don’t trust your God. No one else has been saved. You won’t be either.” 

King Hezekiah could have given in to despair. He could have panicked, compromised, or struck a political deal. But instead, he took the letter, climbed the steps of the temple, and spread it out before the Lord. 

That image has stayed with believers for centuries—a man under pressure, laying his fears before God. Hezekiah didn’t fight the enemy with weapons. He fought by prayer. 

Walking by faith often begins with that kind of surrender. It’s not loud or flashy. It’s quiet, humble, and bold enough to say, “Lord, I trust You more than I fear them.” 

Surrounded by Threats 

Hezekiah became king of Judah during a time of great instability. Assyria was expanding its empire rapidly, and smaller kingdoms like Judah were easy targets. But Hezekiah was not like the kings who came before him. 

“He trusted in the Lord… so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him” (2 Kings 18:5). 

He tore down the high places of idol worship. He cleansed the temple. He restored Passover and reinvited the people of Israel to return to God. He led with courage and spiritual conviction. 

But that didn’t exempt him from attack. 

In 2 Kings 18–19, Sennacherib sends his military commander to deliver a threat on the city gates. In front of the people, he mocks God, ridicules Hezekiah, and tries to stir panic: 

“Do not let Hezekiah deceive you… Has any god of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?” (2 Kings 18:29,33). 

This wasn’t just psychological warfare. It was theological warfare. Sennacherib wasn’t just defying Judah—he was defying God. 

A Faith-Filled Response 

Hezekiah’s first move was not to send troops. He sent word to Isaiah the prophet and asked for prayer. Then, when a second letter from Sennacherib arrived, he took it straight to the temple. 

“Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord” (2 Kings 19:14). 

This wasn’t a symbolic act. It was a physical picture of spiritual reality. Hezekiah laid his fears before God and asked Him to act—not only for Judah’s survival, but for God’s glory: 

“O Lord our God… save us… that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone” (2 Kings 19:19). 

This was not a self-centered prayer. Hezekiah’s deepest desire was for God’s name to be honored, even in the face of national disaster. 

God’s Answer 

God spoke through Isaiah: Sennacherib would not enter the city. He would not shoot an arrow. He would not breach the walls. 

“For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David” (2 Kings 19:34). 

That night, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Sennacherib withdrew, humiliated. Jerusalem was saved—not by its walls or its warriors, but by the word of the Lord. 

The man who dared to mock God was silenced. And the man who laid his burdens before the Lord witnessed a miracle. 

A Pattern for Us 

We may not receive threatening letters from foreign kings, but we face situations that provoke the same kind of fear. A doctor’s report. A job loss. A child in crisis. A relationship unraveling. There are moments when we feel cornered, surrounded, and powerless. 

Hezekiah shows us what to do in those moments: spread your burden before God. 

Faith isn’t always about immediate action. Sometimes it’s about prayerful stillness. Laying down your fears. Trusting in God’s justice and wisdom more than your own strength. 

Hezekiah didn’t know how God would act—but he knew who God was. That was enough. 

Final Encouragement 

Hezekiah’s story is a reminder that real faith is not flashy. It’s not fueled by bravado. It’s forged in the quiet space where we bring our worst fears to the One who never fears. 

When you’re surrounded by pressures too big to fix, don’t give up. Don’t negotiate with your fears. Don’t forget who your God is. 

Do what Hezekiah did. Go to the place of prayer. Spread your worry before the Lord. Ask Him to act for His name’s sake. Then wait, trusting that the God who defended Jerusalem still defends His people today. 

Because walking by faith means placing your fear in God’s hands—and leaving it there.