Just over two years ago I found myself speaking after three very eminent speakers. They had all painted a picture of our nation that made the audience shift uneasily in their seats. Shashi Tharoor had spoken, another respected voice had followed, and both had highlighted the challenges facing India. That day the hall felt heavy. Today with ten thousand rupees being openly offered as a legal bribe to swing votes the picture seems even more grim. It is almost as if we are surrounded by forces that are too strong and too well armed for ordinary citizens to handle.

But that evening, I had a little secret tucked into my pocket. It was an old Bible of mine, the same one I used as a young man. When I pulled it out there was a ripple of surprise in the audience. I opened it slowly, not to preach but to remind everyone of a story that has comforted shaken hearts for centuries.

I read from the Second Book of Kings, chapter six. Elisha’s young servant wakes up one morning to find the city surrounded by an enemy army. Horses, chariots and soldiers stretch across the valley and right up the hills. He rushes back inside to Elisha and cries out, ‘What shall we do?’ It is the same question many of us whisper today when we read the news or watch the latest scandal unfold.

Elisha does not panic. He does not pull out strategy charts or start listing options. He simply looks at the frightened young man and says, ‘Do not be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’

I can imagine the servant staring at his master, wondering if the old man had finally lost it. ‘More with us.’ ‘Where?’ All he could see were enemies. All he could feel was fear.

And then Elisha prays a simple prayer. ‘Open his eyes Lord so that he may see.’

The Lord opens the servant’s eyes and suddenly the young man sees what was there all along. Hills filled with horses and chariots of fire. A heavenly army standing guard.

An invisible force ready to defend and ready to win.

When I finished reading that day the hall had become very quiet. Not a fearful quiet but a thoughtful one. People realised that strength does not always stand where cameras point. Power does not always shout. Help does not always march with boots on the ground.

And today as many of us feel overwhelmed by corruption, by lies, by the buying and selling of our votes, and money being put into women voter’s bank accounts, I want to remind you of that same unseen army.

You may not see them but they surround you.

You may not hear them but they fight for truth and justice in ways we cannot imagine.

So if you are afraid or anxious or wondering what will become of our country, remember that ancient morning. Remember the servant’s terror and the prophet’s calm. And remember the army of fire waiting on the hills.

There is an army out there. An army you cannot see. But it is ready to fight, and yes, to win..!

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