Chapter
39

We live in a broken and fallen world. So many times, we hear people say that “God never gives us more than we can handle.” In fact, many people think that is a quote from the Bible. It is not. It’s also not true. God does give us more than we can handle. In fact, our next breath is dependent on Him giving it to us. Furthermore, everything that we experience that clearly overwhelms us is another opportunity for us to realize that we can’t do this life on our own. We were never designed nor made to do this life without Him. Pride is us thinking that we can do anything on our own apart from God.

 

All that I’ve just said might sound like I’m putting down on myself. I’m not putting myself down. I’m simply not lifting myself up to take the place of God. This type of thinking comes out in the humility of Joshua in Joshua Chapter 1. In this chapter we see Joshua about to enter into the promised land. For many generations, God had promised the land to the Israelites. For many years Joshua and his contemporaries had only been on the outskirts of the promised land. In chapter 1, we see that Joshua is now in charge, and it is time for the Israelites to take possession of the land. It would have been a completely normal reaction for Joshua to be terrified of his mission. In spite of that, God tells Joshua, “Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged.”

 

God is very direct in these commands. In fact, He tells Joshua to do the opposite. God says to “Be strong and courageous.”

 

How? How can we be strong and courageous when the logical outcome of our circumstances is to be terrified and discouraged? The answer lies in reading all of the words in Joshua 1:9. The whole verse says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 

When many people quote this verse, they often leave off the first part which says, “Have I not commanded you?” However, this part is vital to the rest of the verse making any practical sense. God is asking an important question here. He begins by asking who is in charge of your life? Who is directing your path? Who told you to do what is to be done? He had commanded Joshua to go and take possession of the land starting with Jericho. Since God had told Joshua to do it, then there was no reason for Joshua not to have courage. He could boldly move, full of strength from God. This doesn’t mean that Joshua wouldn’t face troubles along his path or that his path would always make sense. It did, however, come with another promise. God would be with Joshua wherever he would go.

 

And where would Joshua go? He would enter the promised land. However, the path to the promised land wouldn’t make sense. God didn’t have Joshua march up to the walls of Jericho with the latest military hardware and bust down the gate. God told Joshua to do what didn’t make sense. He said to follow His commands. He said to march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When they heard them sound a long blast on the trumpets, the whole army gave a loud shout. The wall of the city collapsed, and the army and everyone went straight in.”

 

Joshua won the battle of Jericho by following God’s commands which made no sense at all to the world.

 

God’s commands to Joshua are no different than the commands He gives me today. The world is tough. The world is broken. The world is full of pain and heartache. In the midst of this chaos, God commands me. God instructs me to follow Him and Him alone. But God tells me to take courage and to be strong. He will be with me wherever I go. WHEREVER I GO.

 

So where should we start? We should start by asking God for help. There are no magical words that need to be recited in order to communicate with God. Just talk to Him. He knows right where you are, and all that you’ve done. He loves you anyway.

 

In Mark 9: 22b - 24, there was a conversation between Jesus and a man that was desperately in need of help for His child. The man said to Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

 

Jesus replied: “‘If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes.”

 

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

 

God knows your doubts. God knows everything about you, yet He still wants to help you. Just ask Him for help. He will honor that request.

 

 

Eat well to stay healthy and grow. That kind of advice seems simple and hard to argue with. If we eat poorly, then our body will suffer. If we eat well, our body will benefit. That’s not exactly something I needed to go to medical school to learn.

 

The Bible says in John 6:35 (NIV)

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

 

And in John 1:14 (NIV)

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.