My new team, Boulder, hanging out at a castle in Berat, Albania.
My team and I have been going through the book of Joshua in the Bible. I’ve honestly never read the whole thing through even though my Sunday school teachers did a great job of teaching me these stories as a kid. Those foggy memories of child-like characters and far-away lands are coming to life these days as we study.
The people written about in Joshua were told about the one true God promising their great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather Abraham a land flowing with milk and honey. It probably seemed like a nice, hopeful story to the generations before them who had lived in slavery in Egypt, but could it really be true? Their parents were eventually freed from slavery (by the very same God who made the promise), but they didn’t really believe God would fulfill the promise that had been around for ages. So, instead of entering the land, God had them wander around in the desert until the generation died off. God gave their kids a chance to believe the promise. And guess what? They did.
They asked questions like, “What if God really meant what he said? What if we really are inheriting a land flowing of milk and honey? What if nothing—strong armies, rushing rivers, big walls, and our lack of strength, can stop us from obtaining the thing God promised us?” These questions were actually like little seeds of faith.
These tiny seeds of faith turned out to be all that God wanted from his people, so that He could show them just how great he really was. Spoiler alert: they entered the land. God split rushing rivers that could have stopped them. God demolished large fortresses that were meant to keep them out. God defeated large, strong armies that could’ve easily squashed the Israelites.
And on this faith journey of mine (not just my time on the race) God has been inviting me to ask more questions like the people in Joshua.
what if the words Jesus spoke in the Bible are true?
what if i really can do greater things than what he did on earth if only i ask him? (john 14:12-14)
could there really be ABUNDANT life for me? (john 10:10)
can i really ask and receive from him freely? (matthew 7:7-11)
It’s crazy when the simple act of asking the questions begins to grow your faith. I’ve started to dip my toe a little deeper in the water of this ocean of faith. Eventually, I’ll be swimming. I know it. But right now, I’m ok with saying I’m beginning to get comfortable in the water.
I think it’s ok to start small. Jesus says in Matthew, “For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'” (verse 20) For me, starting small actually looked like changing my mindset on dumb things…
What if brushing my teeth with the water in this country won’t actually kill me?
What if I try the weird street food and get to know the people who made it?
What if the waves of the ocean could do more than just beat me up? What if I could ride them, too?
If I could surf, surely I can raft the Nile, right?
Does God really does accept me as I am? YES
So, I’ve become more willing to come to God and people even when I don’t have everything just right.
Can I really trust God to use me? YES
So, I’ve shared my mind with a group of people I don’t know well (or quite as well as I’d like).
Am I really fearfully and wonderfully created in the image of God? YES
So, I’ve chosen to believe I’m beautiful and valuable regardless of the approval of others.
Does God hear my prayers and answer them? YES
So, I’ve openly prayed for people, who don’t believe in Jesus, boldly asking him for healing.
Does God use me to speak to others? YES
So, I’ve seen visions and said yes to sharing them.
