Be strong… courageous… not afraid… not discouraged…

Ok. I admit it. I’m often a wimp. Not strong. Not courageous. Often afraid/fearful, insecure, overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy. Often discouraged…

And yet this past week I was reminded of how God works in our lives to give us opportunities to grow in faith, in obedience, in learning to align our perspective with His.

In the Old Testament of the Bible there is a story of how Moses, the leader of the Israelites, sent twelve men on a scouting expedition to check out the land they were hoping to possess. Ten of the twelve only saw the obstacles, the BUTs…

• BUT… the people who live there are powerful… and they are stronger than we are!
• BUT… the cities are fortified and very large!
• BUT… the descendants of the Anak are there… and the Amalekites… and the Hitties, Jebusites, Amorites (all peoples who had opposed the Israelites and warred against them at various times).
• BUT… the land devours those living in it!
• BUT… the people are of great size!
• AND… “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” (Numbers 13:33)

Interesting. They felt small, insignificant, powerless — like grasshoppers — in their own eyes, and as a result, that’s exactly how the inhabitants of the land viewed them.

The other two men on the scouting expedition — Joshua and Caleb — had a completely different report. They said the land is exceedingly GOOD!

“If the LORD is pleased with us, HE will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us.”

Joshua’s report in Numbers 14:8

Ten saw ONLY the obstacles, the BUTs. Joshua and Caleb saw the possibilities. Why?

Because they were viewing the same challenges from God’s perspective.

The story continues with some powerful reminders:

Be strong and courageous,
because you will lead these people to inherit the land
I swore to their ancestors to give them.
Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you….
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

God’s instructions to Joshua (Joshua 1: 6-9)

Did you happen to notice what was repeated three times???

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS !!!

Repeating BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS encourages my heart… because by repeating that phrase it indicates that there probably will be times when my strength is lacking. When my courage fails. Times when I may be terrified! Times when I may get discouraged. And yet God reassures us — each of us — that He will always be with us.

When I’m feeling rather wimp-ish, often it’s because –just like the ten — I’m only seeing the obstacles, all the BUTs. I’ve lost perspective, focus. I’ve forgotten that in my own strength I am weak, but with God — He delights in demonstrating His power IN my weaknesses! His grace truly is sufficient!

So, the next time you feel lacking in strength or courage… and maybe even feel fearful and discouraged… remember the two who saw challenges but viewed them as possibilities — not obstacles. Realign your perspective with God’s, recognizing this as an opportunity to grow in faith and obedience … and also remember that together we can have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”