Observation: near the end of the journey to the Promised Land, God reveals that Moses will not enter with the people. Instead, his protégé, Joshua, will lead them in this next chapter of Israel's story. Moses' advice to Joshua: "be strong and bold."
Application: I heard a quote the other day that I'd like to paraphrase. "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the judgement that something else is more important than your fear." Joshua would have been right to have some fear, even though Moses told him not to. The road ahead would not be easy or safe. But he had both Moses' and God's assurance that he was doing the right thing. The promised destiny of God's people was more important than any fear he may have had.
I think as a disciple of Jesus, it's hard to keep perspective. When we talk about following Jesus, we are talking of nothing less than proclaiming the reconciliation of the entire cosmos with its creator: justice, peace, healing and salvation, extending through all space and time, from the cross of Christ. In that grand scheme, the anxiety about making an unpopular decision, of leading folks to a slightly different place than they first pictured, down a slightly different path, traveling by a slightly different means, pales in comparison. I find that when I'm in conversation with God regularly--not just in emergencies--I am better able to keep that larger perspective, and better able to share that perspective with others. It doesn't eliminate my fear and anxiety, nor theirs. But it helps us greet the fear, and acknowledge it as a welcome byproduct of the changed life God is calling us to live together. If God didn't abandon Joshua, God won't leave us either. Acknowledge the fear, and keep going.
Prayer: God, change is scary. Thanks for going ahead of us to each place you call us to go. When we get nervous, help us remember you'll be waiting there. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment