We often talk about reaching crossroads in life, a moment in time in which we have to decide which way to go. There is another place of decision that many of us come to and that is when we can see where we are supposed to be, but we see it from a spot that we have become very comfortable in. The question that often arises is, “How do we get there from here?”
At City of Refuge Fellowship we have arrived at one of those places. It is time for us, as a group of people, as a ministry and as a church to look out over the horizon and see where we are called to be, and even what we are called to be and realize it is no longer far off; it is now time for us to move forward, to allow change and to have faith in God’s ability to transform and use us for His desired glory. After Moses died, God simply told Joshua that it was time to take the camp of Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. Joshua had followed and learned from Moses, he had been declared in front of all the people as the next leader, he had been the great general that had led the armies ever since they came out of Israel, it was now time for him to simply do what he had been preparing for for over 40 years.
God then tells Joshua three times to “be strong and courageous.” It seems quite clear from God’s instructions that Joshua was prepared, the time had come, God was going before him, but he was going to need strength and courage to fulfill the purpose that God had promised over his life. Things don’t always just “fall into place.” Opposition, obstacles and distractions are not reasons to rethink the plan or change course, they are reasons to bear down, hold tight and follow God’s voice even more closely than before. The will of God will always be accomplished if we are willing to trust Him and obey Him at all times, but trusting and obedience require strength and courage. If you find yourself struggling with God’s will today, pray for strength and pray for courage. He has promised to “never leave you nor forsake you”, but there are season in life in which it takes strong faith and courageous love to believe and trust God’s promises. Be strong and courageous, God will be with you wherever He leads you and He will fulfill everything He has promised, the closer we follow, the more clearly we see Him during the journey.