“This is the year to push past fear and embrace change”.
I heard God speak this to me about a week ago and feel like it’s very significant for me and perhaps for others as well.
I love the book of Joshua. At the start of last year God put that on our heart as He began to speak to our family about the change of lifestyle He was calling us into.
Before the Israelites could cross over into their promised land they needed to cross something; the river Jordan. I’ve been thinking about this a bit lately and how this is quite prophetic in that there are often situations we need to cross before we step into the promises of God.
God charges them three times in the first chapter to “be strong and very courageous” ending with the final charge of:
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Jos 1:9
Why did they need to be strong and have courage? Because they were going to face their fears.
Crossing the river Jordan was the beginning of their journey to inherit and a marker of faith that “we will trust God despite our fears”.
Fears that want to hold us back from crossing over into our promised land.
Fears of performance, rejection, insecurity and the unknown (among many others) that say:
“You are not good enough”. “You can’t do that”. “You will fail”. “People are laughing at you”.
The book of Joshua is about a people that had to fight to possess what God had promised them. It didn’t just fall into their lap.
They were led by their values and what God had spoken to them. Their strength and courage came from their faith in God. They pursued that and God brought the victories.
I realise in my own life that I can let fear talk to me and not use faith to shut it up.
I’ve always loved this quote:
“Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s the absence of self”.
It’s not whether you feel fear, it’s what you do when you feel it.
You can stay safe, and not put yourself out in any uncomfortable situations or you can choose faith and follow the adventure that God has for you.
Other than fear, what do you have to lose?
Your greatest discoveries and delights are on the other side of your fear.
The dreams and promises you have from God are on the other side of your fear.
You may lose some people in your world as you begin your journey but you’ll gain lifelong friends that value who you are.
Abraham was called to follow God. And as he journeyed then God began to reveal the plan.
The will of God is often not a clearly mapped out plan. It’s following the call and values that God has given you. As you go, He will show.
What man calls failure, God calls faith. There is no failure in God if your heart is to seek Him. It’s all learning and growing from glory to glory.
Let’s not be afraid anymore. Of anything.
What is God saying to you? Do it.
Do you have people around you supporting you? Great!
You don’t have people around you supporting you? Find some!
Don’t let fear decide your destiny. Follow faith!
It’s time to push past the fear and embrace change! :)
Rach xx