When It's Time to Act

FRESH Official Podcast

When the going gets tough, emotions like fear and dismay have a nasty habit of immobilising us. Like a rabbit caught in headlights, we freeze up and stop doing the things we need to do to deal with our situation.

Yesterday we caught up with Joshua at a scary time. Moses was dead. Joshua had become the leader of Israel just when they had to fight battle after battle to take the Promised Land. But God said to Him:

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV)

There it is – those emotions of fear and dismay that tend to freeze us up. God’s command in the face of all that? Be strong and courageous for I am with you wherever you go.

So how did Joshua react to that? How did this God-breathed strength and courage manifest itself?

Joshua 1:10,11 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’” (ESV)

The strength and courage that God spoke over Joshua manifested itself in action. Instead of cowering in fear on the safe side of the Jordan, he boldly prepared the nation for battle, to step over the river and take the Promised Land.

Don’t let fear and dismay immobilise you. Absolutely, go to God for power from on high. But soon thereafter, inevitably, it’s time to act.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.