Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you everyplace where you set your foot, as I promised Moses…As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go…Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1-9
I’m guessing that the sun was shining that morning over three-thousand years ago—as it is this morning outside my window—as Joshua stood there on the banks of the Jordan River. Moses, the great servant of the Lord, had just passed from the scene, and Joshua has been selected by God to succeed Moses to lead the Israelites from this point forward into the Promised Land.
But, even with the sun shining, I’ll bet if you look closely between the lines, you can almost see Joshua’s knees knocking, feel his pulse racing, watch the pools of sweat cover the ground beneath his perspiring palms—all from the doubt, worry and anxiety he is probably feeling as he realizes the position to which God is calling him.
If you listened closely and you might hear—
“Me? But Lord I’m too inadequate; surely there is someone else more capable of crossing the Jordan River, and with all these people blindly following—me! And what’s on the other side?”
I can identify with Joshua, always have. I wonder how many of you can identify with him also. I wonder how many of you feel today as Joshua felt so long ago. Facing something you have the ability to do, or something you should do—and you begin to wonder whether you can do it. Something you have been prepared for, and which you have prepared for—and you wonder if this is the right time after all. You know you can do it, you know it’s time. But then the subtle enemy of your faith slips in—doubt.
Doubt. Its timing is always the same—right at that moment when we need to move forward in faith. It rears its ugly head trying to rob us of our faith.
You can count me among those allowing doubt to creep in too many times in my life. It happens all too often to all of us.
We have all been where Joshua was that day. And here’s the news flash for today—his story of that moment three-thousand years ago is as relevant today for us as it was true then for him. We have all been there, and the truth is that we will find ourselves there again. Facing a river deep and wide with currents stronger than our shaking legs or racing pulse can manage, which we know we have to cross to move toward becoming all God created us to be.
But here’s the good news.
Here’s the rest of that story.
Here’s the promise to remember when we face another Jordan River in our lives and doubt begins its ugly creep into our faith—God will go with you and ahead of you as you cross your Jordan River—into all He has planned for your tomorrow. Easy? Maybe not. Will the currents take you to a place on the other side you didn’t intend to go? Maybe. Will He be with you wherever you end up? You can bet your life on it! And a lot of others who love you will be there, too.
What Jordan River are facing today?
A family illness. A career change or challenge. A bad decision, and now you have to walk it all back to a new starting place in your life where God can continue to mold you into all He created you to be.
A relationship has gone stale. Your children are struggling with something in their lives, and you’re not sure how to help. A habit you need to change that’s keeping you from being all He wants you to.
Maybe there’s something you should have done or tried to do long ago, and instead you’ve been sitting on the bank of the Jordan just dangling your feet in the rushing waters, afraid you may fail if you try. It may be time to jump in and head for the other side.
So, what Jordan River are you facing today? Whatever it is, remember this empowering promise from the One Who created 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.”
That’s the good news.
And that’s the rest of whatever story you’re in the midst of right now.
That’s the promise as you face whatever Jordan River is before you—
God is with you.
What else do you need to get moving? Nothing!
Okay then, time to go, time to cross over!
In His Name—Scott
Copyright 2017. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.
