Joshua 1:9

Stepping into the unknown with faith and courage prepares us to embrace the call to explore new possibilities and trust God’s guidance in uncharted waters.

In Joshua’s chapter one, Moses dies, and Joshua is now the leader of the children of Israel. God tells Joshua the plan to give the people the land He had promised them. Three times, God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. “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.” (Joshua 1:9)

Did Joshua have a resume that included conquering land other people already lived on? No, he did not. This was new territory for him, figuratively and literally. God continually encouraged him to complete the task at hand. The only thing that Joshua had to do was to have faith and trust in God’s plan. When Joshua did this, he and the Israelites were successful. We, too, can trust God as Joshua did.

How can you trust someone without communication? Communication is often said to be a fundamental building block for a lasting relationship. How do we stay in communication with God? Examples of this include reading His Word and prayer. As the Psalmist wrote, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against you” (Psalms 119:11). Having God’s Word on our minds, helps us to remember that we can have faith and trust in Him.

We should also pray for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us remember that God is with us and remind us of God’s promises in the Bible. One important promise is that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Does this mean He will give us whatever we want? God’s will for us always aligns with God’s Word. The Bible says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). When we ask God for things while being in the same mindset as Christ, then we will be asking God for the things that God wants us to ask for, things that God wants to give us, things that God knows we need. How do we get into the mindset of Christ? We ask God for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift that God will freely give to us when we ask.

When we trust God, we develop the courage to do what He asks us. Our brain makes little synaptic pathways based on our habits. The more we practice something, the deeper these synaptic pathways become. For example, practicing the piano for an hour daily will prepare a person for a piano recital. In the same way, if we develop habits of reading God’s Word, communicating with Him, and trusting in Him, we will also develop pathways in our brain that will allow us to be courageous when we face uncharted waters with unknown possibilities. We will be able to go wherever God leads us to go.

Questions for Discussion

1. Recall a time when you were courageous and trusted God to guide you in exploring new possibilities.
2. Many times in the Bible, God spoke to individuals in an audible voice. God still speaks to us today. When have you heard God speak to you? What does it look like for you when God speaks to you?
3. It is important to develop a relationship with God. What are some ways that we can strengthen our habits of communicating with Him?

This post was written by Zalika Bishop

Adventist Young Professionals