Jump

Last year my brother Joshua turned 13.  To commemorate the occasion, I wanted to leave him with a verse that really meant something.  So I did some research on Joshua’s biblical namesake.

The Biblical Joshua is such a fascinating figure.  He was Moses’ right-hand man, one of only two Israelite spies who didn’t doubt God’s promises, and thus one of the only people from his generation to make it to the promised land.  It’s easy to remember his incredible feats and faithful reliance on God, and forget about his human insecurities.  But I think it makes his story so much more powerful if we remember them. 

Joshua was not some super-Christian.  He wasn’t immune to the fears and failures that we all face every day.  In the book of Joshua, over and over again we hear God encouraging him, telling him to not be afraid, reminding him that his courage and strength should be found in God alone.  In fact, it could be said that before Joshua’s greatest feat – finally capturing Canaan for the Israelites after years and years of waiting – he faced his greatest fear.  God has spent a lifetime preparing Joshua for what he was about to do…and yet he was still afraid!

Fear, in itself, is neither abnormal nor unholy.  What matters is that you make the jump anyway.  True, abundant life is not found in the ride; it’s found in the jumps, the leaps of faith that we take that allow God to work uninhibited in us and through us.

Joshua 1:1-9

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “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. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 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.”

Courage

Yesterday was the opening night of Courageous, the fourth movie written, directed, and produced by my home church.  A friend of mine sent me a link this morning to the main song, written and performed by Casting Crowns specifically for the movie.

There's a line in that song that really struck a chord with me.  It says that "the only way we'll ever stand is on our knees with lifted hands."  What powerful words.  So many times we think that courage is a willingness to do scary things, or to "put yourself out there."  We think that it is an outward expression of inward strength.

And I suppose, in a way, that it is.  But not in the way that we think.  Courage comes from the Lord.  So, like Casting Crowns said, the only way that we can stand and be courageous is by being humble and coming to the Lord in prayer.  It's funny how everything in life seems to come back to prayer.  I guess that makes sense, though.  How can we expect God to be with us if we don't even know who He is?

 Courageous
By Casting Crowns

We were made to be courageous, we were made to lead the way
We could be the generation, that finally breaks the chains
We were made to be courageous, we were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines, standing unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines, while our families slip away
Where are you, men of courage? You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry, we will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous, and we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous, and it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand, is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous, Lord make us courageous

This is our resolution, our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children, we refuse to let them fall
We will reignite the passion, that we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriorsLet the men of God arise

Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God

In the war of the mind, I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart, and the battle of the hand

Joshua 1:7-9

 ⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ 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.”

Something to shout about

Time doesn't stop.  Time doesn't slow down.  Don't you wish sometimes that it would?  Or, better yet, that it would go backwards?  How many mistakes have we made that we wish we could undo?  Have you ever wanted to freeze a moment that's simply so perfect that just the thought of it ending is painful?  Do you ever feel like life is spinning out of control, and you can't keep up with it?

That's how I feel right now.  I'm graduating from college in 25 days - when did THAT happen??  I'm looking for jobs, taking exit exams, trying to stay motivated in my classes.  I'll be going to live on the other side of the world in just a few short months.  In my mind, I'm still a little high school kid, with no bigger worries than what she's going to wear tomorrow.  It's scary and overwhelming being in the "real world".  But God is always there for me, encouraging me and lighting up my sky (see my post from yesterday).  Joshua 1:9 says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  It's exhausting being in the real world; but in my weakness, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Isaiah 40:29-31 says that "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

God is so good.  When our world seems to be spinning out of control, we can take comfort in the fact that He's there with us.  He will give us strength, peace, comfort, and direction.  I don't know about you, but to me, that's something that I want to shout about :).