I’ve been meaning to get around to posting a blog about this but didn’t know what to say. Over a month later: here I am – updating you all (finally) on this wild journey of faith.
The beginning of last month marked a season of transition for Y-squad: Team changes and leadership changes. Team changes come with the reality that you will not be on a team with many of the people you were on a team with for the past 4 months. Our alumni squad leaders who spent these last 4 months with us would also be going home at the end of the month, and two people on our squad would be raised up as squad leaders to fill that position. Halfway through month four, I received the call inviting me to be a raised up squad leader. After combatting the lies of the Enemy telling me that I’m not _____ enough to be a leader and after earnestly praying for grace and confirmation, the Lord affirmed me and called me into the obedience of saying “Yes” – even if I didn’t 100% understand what I was accepting.
The rest of our month in the Philippines would involve shadowing and training to learn how best to lead and care for our squad. Responsibilities that a raised up squad leader have are praying over the ministry placements for each month and placing teams, periodically checking in with teams over the course of the month, praying over the squad and relaying information about how the squad is doing to our squad mentor and coaches back in the States.
All in all, our ministry focus becomes the people on our squad as opposed to the ministries that we partner with each month. Of course we will still be with a team each month and doing ministry alongside them, but our main focus is Y-squad and the lovely people that make it quite possibly the best World Race squad to ever launch!
As the Enemy continued to whisper Unworthiness over me last month, the Lord walked me through the book of Joshua – and His message was clear and true:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will lead you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)
And He repeats it throughout the entire book. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. The Lord your God will lead you wherever you go, Nichol.
And here’s what I love about the repetition in this book: it reveals the humanity of Joshua. Why would God feel the need to repeat these same words of encouragement over and over, four times in the first chapter alone? Simple. Joshua needed to hear them. The Lord’s encouragement and reassurance was an indication of Joshua’s internal state – discouragement and fear plagued him. As Joshua received the baton of leadership passed to him by Moses and prepared to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, he needed to be reminded that the Lord would be with him. That the Lord is his strength. That he need not be afraid.
And more often than not, I need to be reminded of the same thing.
Spoiler alert (hehe): The Lord used Joshua to deliver the Israelites into the land of Canaan, being faithful to His covenant promises! And through this, I’m reminded that our Father will equip and sustain us amid even the most daunting of circumstances. If He wants to use us, He will. We just have to be obedient.
Now, I realize all of these changes happened over a month ago – but I’m continuing to learn from Joshua today as I navigate my first official month of leadership with Team Freedom in Ho Chi Minh City. And wow, has this team welcomed me so graciously into their lives and hearts. David, Kenna, Erika, Zachery, Mack and Monica: you guys are the bee’s knees! I’ve loved spending this month with you all.
While Joshua can be an encouraging book to read when entering a season of leadership, the Lord’s command to Joshua is actually a message for us all: Do not be afraid.
And this isn’t the first (nor the last) time He gives this command:
“Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22)
“‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:8)
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today” (Exodus 14:13)
“Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you” (Joshua 10:8)
“Do not be afraid. From now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10)
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30)
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32)
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
And there are 95 other verses where that came from…
The truth is, being followers of Christ does not make us immune to life, but we don’t have to succumb to the fear that Satan uses to misguide us either. We have power through the Holy Spirit to rebuke fear and to live courageously, to live a life so full of faith and trust that fear is renounced before its lies are even whispered; because the Lord doesn’t just tell us not to be afraid, He tells us why we shouldn’t be.
He will fight for us. He will rescue us. He will deliver us. He will protect us. He will use us. He rests His favor on us. He gives the kingdom to us.
He is with us.
And just as the ark of His covenant went before Israel across the Jordan, He goes before us – into the uncharted territory of His will for our lives.
And all the Lord’s people said…
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P.S. I know I haven’t been the best at updating you all on what the Lord is doing in my life – but I truly do want to share more about the experiences I’ve had on the Race. I’m squad leading with my co-leader Allina right now (an absolutely phenomenal human whom I can’t wait to share more with you about soon); and while Allina is with Team Plants and Pillars in Nha Trang, I’m with Team Freedom here in Ho Chi Minh City. We’re essentially English teachers this month – but have also built relationship with the Vietnamese people/tourists outside of English class (which comes with some sweet, quirky stories of unexpected friendship). The Lord has been sharpening and challenging me this month – but He has also been showing me what it looks like to rest in His presence, and I hope to share more about that with you soon. Thanks for continuing to follow my journey, friends! I’m so thankful for you all.
XOXO, Nichol
