In Over Your Head — Adam’s Angle

If God has called you to a place where you’re in over your head— you’re not alone! You’ve got a friend in Joshua.

Think about it. That Moses guy was a tough act to follow. He spoke to God, broke the bonds of Egypt, and led a nation for 40 years. And yet — in a moment — he died. His legacy ended. And, at that point, the Lord pulled Joshua aside for a little heart-to-heart and informed him that he was chosen to fill Moses’ Birkenstocks.

What’s more, the Lord told him that he would bring God’s people into the promised land. That’s something even Moses couldn’t do.

Overwhelmed? You bet he was. And like him, we often feel outgunned when God calls us to some new life situation that seems impossible. We may not have to lead a grumbly nation to battle against giants, but we still face very real challenges — like taking the lead in a new ministry or raising a child— that we know are in God’s will for us.

But how do we overcome our feelings of inadequacy to rise to the task?

We follow Joshua’s example. When God throws you in the deep end, relax. He’s given you all you need to fulfill your calling — His presence and His Word.

A Giant Calling

In the first nine verses of Joshua, God tells him to be “strong and courageous” three times. It may seem repetitive, but it was something that Joshua needed to hear. He would need moral resolve and decisive action to lead God’s people.

Even better, God’s word’s weren’t empty cheers from a well-wishing soccer dad on the sideline. His charge to Joshua had a firm foundation.

The first reason God gave Joshua to live boldly for Him was the very calling He had given him: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them” (Joshua 1:6).

Knowing that God had called him would give Joshua confidence to face this “impossible” task — because it was God’s task, not his own wacky scheme.

An Odd Battleplan

The second time God urges Joshua to be strong and courageous, it is because God has given him a sure battle plan — His Word: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:7-8).

Strangely enough, the road to success wasn’t based on mastermind tactics of warfare. The way to victory was through attentive obedience to God’s Word.

Two things to note here. First, Joshua wasn’t allowed to “ballpark” God’s law by taking moral shortcuts. He was to continually meditate on it so that he wouldn’t deviate to the right or to the left. Likewise, we need to make sure we’re paying serious attention to God’s Word in our own lives.

Second, knowing God’s Word was not enough — he had to obey it. That means he had to act on what he knew. And obedience isn’t just for Old Testament heroes who march against the armies of Jericho. It’s for you and me in our normal little lives — even when we need to forgive our brother when we’d rather not.

A Mighty Ally

The third time God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous, He gives him the best reason of all to take heart: God’s presence. God said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

If Joshua had been looking at his own strength, he would have plenty of Canaanites to be terrified of and many cranky Israelites to discourage him. But any inadequacy he felt in himself wouldn’t matter if God were there to face the challenge with Him.

And that’s the comfort we have, too. If you’re doing what God has called you to do — according to His Word, with His presence — what are you afraid of? Take heart and get on with it!

— Adam Pivec
9/13/08