Let God be God

When you’re facing challenges in life, wouldn’t you like to know that you have someone on your side who has already prepared for every eventuality? Would it comfort you to know that someone has already gone ahead of you to prepare the way for you, like someone scouting a hiking trail before opening it to the public?

Wouldn’t it be nice if life worked that way? Where someone could walk ahead of you?

Well, what would you think if I told you life did work that way?

Blooming rose in the Rose Garden at Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs, CO

Today’s verse is Deuteronomy 31:8.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.

This verse is Moses talking to Joshua about the battle that is getting ready to take place. Joshua was getting ready to take up the mantel of leadership for the nation of Israel, assuming responsibility for leading them into the land God had given them. Talk about a challenge! Joshua had grown up with these people, so he knew exactly how difficult they were to lead.

If I were him, I would have been terrified. So I think it’s interesting that our first experiences with Joshua are hearing God tell him directly not to be afraid–or speaking to him through others telling him not to be afraid.

What’s interesting to me is that God had already prepared all of the lands between Israel and the Promise Land to be captured and defeated. He had already been working in the background so that events could unfold the way He wanted. Joshua and the nation of Israel didn’t have to do anything except trust Him because He’d already worked everything out.

And that’s how our lives work too. We aren’t strong enough or smart enough or big enough to handle all of our life’s problems, but God is. And He’s been working in the background of your life and my life, setting up plans and getting everything ready for us to arrive.

We don’t have to do anything. We don’t have to make anything happen. We just have to show up and let God be God.

When God says He’s gone before us, that’s what He means. He’s walked ahead of us. He knows what’s coming, and He’s ready for it. We just have to stick with Him and He’ll work it out because that’s what He does.

What impossible challenge are you facing today? What do you need to accomplish that you can’t do on your own?

Don’t be afraid. Don’t give up. It’s not a surprise to God because He already knew it was coming and He’s already ready for it. Stop trying to fix everything and just go with it. God’s got it.