Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Have you ever known the right thing to do, the right outcome to aim for, but dreaded the unpleasant path required to get there?
Over the past two years, God gave me glimpses of a world which was part joyous, and part disturbing. It was joyous because it was bathed in His light. But it was also disturbing because it meant an upheaval of the world as it currently stands, with pain and confusion. To get to that bright destination meant a journey through darkness.
Right now, there is an inexorable, inescapable collision course with that future. It’s like a tractor beam or conveyor belt with rails, and there’s nowhere to go but to his predestination. When you’re in His raging river, you can splash and maybe maneuver yourself a little, but you’re still going where His waters will take you.
But there is comfort in this…to know that there is something He needs us to do, and that He is carrying us to accomplish it. We also know that any pain along the way is purposeful toward improvement and strength and refinement, and confusion will be dashed in hindsight.
As always throughout His word, it’s all about trusting in His plans.
When you face the inevitable, you have a choice of attitude to deal with it: Thrashing in despair and denial, or relaxing in calm acceptance, and growing into the courage to prepare for the challenge? I choose the latter.
When we choose to deny ourselves and go with God’s current, instead of wasting our energy fighting against it, we can instead use His positive energy to buoy and motivate us. We are no longer working against ourselves and God, but aligned with Him and His direction. And that’s a great way to go.
Still, we can grow anxious at an impending future. Like in the photo for this post, if you want to get back on the ground from a skydive…you kind of have to just do it. But just as God commanded Joshua (and so many others) to not fear, and to be courageous, He is telling us that He is with us when we act according to His plans for us.
We are to listen carefully to what God calls us to do. And whatever He calls us to do will be righteous, even when the world tells us otherwise. Let us listen and follow, and ask Him to give us the courage to follow His lead, and the peace of knowing we are on the right path.
Today’s soundtrack
Casting Crown’s “Courageous” inspired this post, because one of our duties in our walk is, when called to, take the courageous path in His name.
Steven Curtis Chapman’s “Dive” is the other song that is relevant here…to jump in and let the Lord carry us where He needs us to go in service to Him.
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