Trust Fall

“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

There is an exercise that is done at many team building retreats where participants will stand behind a person in two lines and the person on the platform falls backwards and they catch their teammate. That’s a bold move; to have your back turned to your team, fall backwards, and trust that the people behind you will catch you. You are putting your safety and trust in people who may not like you, see your value, or care if you are caught or not. Imagine if we served a God who felt that way about us. What if God didn’t care if we were caught or not. What if our trust fall…failed?

In this passage of scripture, we find our boy Joshua, faithful and devoted servant to Moses, now in charge. He is now tasked with finishing what Moses could not. Taking over Jericho and leading his people to their new home, Joshua was now standing on the shoulders of Moses. I like to use my holy imagination to think that while he understood the assignment, there had to be some level of unsureness. Can I handle this? Will God lead me, speak to me, guide me the way he did Moses? Am I really the right person for the job? In Joshua chapter 1, God speaks to Joshua and reminds him not once, not twice, but three times that he should be strong and courageous. That there should be no fear or uncertainty. God has his back.

It is verse 9 that really seals the deal for me. God is telling, not necessarily reminding or reassuring Joshua, but giving it to him straight, “Hey! I got you. Don’t even trip. I already got the game plan set. You good, my guy.” God is telling him that he should not be discouraged or afraid, because he is with him wherever he goes. I emphasized the “is” because it could have been written, “will be, should be, ought to be”, but it states it as “is” That means that God is present, and there is no question or doubt about it.

In our daily lives, we have to remember that God is with us. All the time. Always. Whether we are preparing for a new job, relationship, whatever the case may be, we do not have to be afraid not knowing if God is going to catch us. We just have to be strong, courageous, and ready for the journey.

#AshleySpeak