Let me set the scene for you. The Israelites are on the other side of the Jordan River, right at the edge of the Promised Land. You know, the place they’ve been wandering in the wilderness, waiting to enter, for the past 40 years. Moses, their leader for that entire time, just died. They are mourning. Joshua, who was mourning his mentor, was their new leader. This would be his first time leading over 2 million people on his own. Once they crossed the river to enter the Promised Land, they would have to drive out the Canaanites who already lived there. To add to their anxieties, they screwed it up the last time. They could have entered the Promised Land 39 years prior, but they didn’t trust and obey God.

I guarantee you they were all nervous, worried, afraid, and full of anxiety, especially Joshua, who had the great responsibility of leading these people.

This is what God had to say to the Israelites in this critical moment, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” Joshua 1:9. He was telling them not to be afraid, even though they already were. I would also argue that they had good reason to be nervous. He was comforting and encouraging them, not condemning them for their anxiety.

It’s like when a child is afraid to go into their classroom on the first day of school. Do their parents scold them for being afraid? No. They offer comfort and encouragement by saying things like:

“Be brave!”

“You don’t have to be scared.”

“It’s going to be okay.”

“I will walk in with you.”

“I will make sure you are safe.”

This is the demeanor I imagine God had as He led Joshua and the Israelites into the Promised Land. This is how I view God as He leads me through hard things. Even when I don’t know what I am doing, even when I’m grieving, even when I screwed it up the last time, even when I don’t know what the result will be, and even when I’m scared. He’s not condemning, accusing, or blaming me. (That’s someone else I know.) He’s patient, loving, kind, and gentle. He says, “Don’t be afraid to try again; I’ve got this!”

In 1 John 4:18, it says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” Who can give us perfect love to cast out our fears? God can because God is love (1 John 4:8).

When wandering our own wilderness, let’s not make the same mistake the Israelites made the first time. Let’s trust and obey God even when it’s hard, even when it seems like it’s taking 40 years, and even when it seems like we’re failing. Moses died right at the edge of the Promised Land. That must have been really discouraging for the Israelites. I bet they felt like they were failing. Sometimes that’s the way it goes, though. Sometimes hard things happen right at the threshold of a breakthrough, making us want to give up. We need to push through, continuing to trust and obey God, even when…

Meet the Author