Thought For the Week 23 June 2024

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

A few weeks ago a member of our congregation shared with me their weariness with change “We’ve had so much change over the years, do we really need more change?” I can understand the sentiment. It’s not just change, but change that we would not choose for ourselves that discourages us.

There are two things we can do to help us through times of difficult change, both are present in God’s encouragement to Joshua at the beginning of his time as Israel’s leader:

1. Trust God. Our circumstances may change, and the challenges in front of us, but the same God is with us always. We place our hope in Him. Our focus is important here. When we focus on the times when things have gone wrong, and God seems a long way away, then we are discouraged, and we lose hope. When we remember how God has blessed us, even in the midst of our most difficult times, When we remember God’s faithfulness, then hope for the future is born.
2. Step out in faith. The future is an unknown country. We cannot avoid change, but will we proactively choose our path in response to God’s faithfulness, or will we resist the future, and so pile up difficulties upon ourselves? Joshua saw the giants in the land. He chose to step out in faith and to trust in God’s faithfulness that is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, wherever we find ourselves, and whatever challenges are before us.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Many blessings,

Rory