JOSHUA 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
This is a well-known verse, but it hit me at a new level today as I read the entire 1st chapter of Joshua. Throughout history there have been those few individuals that were called to do something extraordinary, beyond anything capable of their own doing. In fact, God often chose the weak and no-named people to do CRAZY things. Think of Gideon when God told him to rise up an army to defeat the Midianites. Moses when He commanded him to return to Egypt and free his people. Mary, a young virgin girl who was promised to give birth to the Son of God. Maybe it was because He wanted to stretch their faith. Or maybe it was to show HIS ultimate power by using people who doubted themselves.
It is astounding to see the process of God's calling over people's lives. When he approached Joshua, he spoke directly to him, ordering him to cross the Jordan River and enter the promised land regardless of any opposition he and the Israelites might face. He promised that His command would be fulfilled, affirmed Joshua to disregard fear, and told him 3 times to be strong and VERY courageous. You'd think that after God Himself would tell you something directly, it's a done deal- God's got the plan, He's in charge, and if He says conquer, we conquer right?
If only it was that simple.
Though we often KNOW God's promise and have heard His call, we can easily be plagued by fear. Second questioning. Doubt. Going over everything and anything that could go wrong instead of grasping His peace. Do you really want me to do that??? I sometimes find myself caught in that mindset about the World Race. "$15,500 God? How am I supposed to raise this? I have little time and still need to get my gear and I have no idea how to think about packing my whole life into a backpack for a year…." You get the point.
What's so awesome is that each time I question God's plan, He reminds me of HIS promise, like He did to Joshua. I think He emphasized the "be strong and courageous" line to affirm Joshua not to be afraid, that He would equip him for the task ahead. God has called each of us to do a certain task, whether big or small. Isn't it crazy that the minute He speaks and tells us to do something, He's already aligned our steps to walk in that direction? All we gotta do is WALK. and FOLLOW Him. No matter how inadequate we might feel.
Because ultimately…
HE WINS!
🙂
