I recently spent some time studying Joshua and the obstacles he had to overcome. Let me tell you, this guy could’ve been a worrier. Seriously, he could’ve spent a lot of his time worrying about the things he was dealing with.
With enemies to conquer, rivers to cross, problems to solve among the Israelites, and land to divide fairly, many people depended on him for their safety and well-being. However, before Joshua had embarked on the task of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, God had spoken to him in the strongest possible way about ridding his life of fear and worry.
God said, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:5, 9 NLT
By the end of Joshua’s life, he had learned to overcome his worry by trusting in God to be faithful to His promises.
God never failed him.
This is a pattern that repeated many times in the Bible. God asked for confidence in Him to carry His people through the trials life threw their way.
Moses had hope in God in the wilderness, while his people complained and questioned every decision. He still trusted in God and God delivered them to Joshua and the Promised Land.
Daniel had faith in the lions den, and God protected him. Then Daniel was blessed and God was praised.
Noah had courage in God’s plan, while people mocked and scoffed at his obedience. God delivered a promise to destroy the world, and Noah’s family were the only ones to be saved because of their faith and courage.
David had a heart for God, and continually ran to Him for deliverance. God took a young boy and gave him the confidence to overcome a warrior giant. God protected and guided David. He was a shepherd boy and God turned him into a King.
I could go on and on with stories about God protecting, delivering, and blessing His people throughout the entire Bible. So my question is this…
Why do we fret about the giants in our path?
God promised you the same thing He promised Joshua, Moses, David, Daniel, and Noah…
…For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear…”
Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT
Listen…worrying not only ties you up emotionally, it hurts your relationship with God. By worrying, you’re saying you are in control of circumstances, that you somehow change the situation with your worry.
In truth, God’s in charge. He always has been. While it can be hard to trust him to work for your good, trust is hard work that pays off.
When you give your worry to God, you experience a peace in difficult situations that prepares you and equips you to respond better.
Fret often causes us to fumble around, so I’ve learned to make the decision to pray every time I catch myself worrying. It reminds me to turn the giant I’m facing over to God, and allow Him to take control. It’s a reminder to stop picking up what I already left at His feet. It’s a conscious choice to let Him control my life for His glory.
So next time your fumble with fret, pray when you catch yourself worrying. God won’t leave you stranded. After all, if David was a man after God’s own heart, with all his baggage and struggles, your giants are a piece of cake for Him.
Courtesy of: Be Salt & Light Blog
