Stepping Out

This week I was reading the story of the Israelites, and their first encounter with the land of Canaan.  Remember that one?  They had escaped the brutal working conditions of Egypt, lived in the desert off of manna, and were finally getting their first glimpse of the Promised Land.  Should have been a joyful occasion, right?  God had already done so many miracles for them, after all.  No reason to think He wouldn’t continue to do so…..

Except that’s not how the story goes at all.  Twelve men go into Canaan, but all but two let fear prevent them from stepping out and claiming what God had promised them.

So are you one of the ten who see only the giants in your future, or the two who truly see your own Promised Land as God intended, flowing with milk and honey?

It’s hard to be a Joshua or a Caleb.  For one thing, you’re usually outnumbered – there are almost always plenty of people around you who see only the negative.  It takes courage to make that first step to explore the world, and ask God to give you His eyes to see the future.  It means acknowledging that there are giants in this new world, but also trusting that your God is bigger. 

If we do not step out in faith, we will curse ourselves to wandering in the desert, denying ourselves of the blessings of the promised land He has for us.  And if you miss your opportunity, like the Israelites did, you may not be able to go back and fix it.  (After their pity party about the big scary giants, and God’s rebuke, they attempted to go back and claim Canaan on their own.  BIG mistake.)

Here’s the good news:  God probably isn’t calling you to leap across the Grand Canyon, right off the bat.  We do not have to see each step of the entire journey – only the next one.  Then we trust Him to show us the one after that, and the one after that, and so on.  We are called not to giant leaps, but to baby steps in the right direction. 

Only when we are finally in our Promised Land will we be able to begin to fully appreciate the journey that we have taken – some things will make more sense only in perspective.  Still others may never make sense.  That’s okay, too.  Just take it one step at a time, and He’ll put all the pieces together. 

It won’t happen, though, unless you ignore your own fears and the naysayers in your life  --- and take that first step.   

Where is God calling you to step out in faith?  Let me know in the comments, and I’ll add you to my prayers.

“Do not dare not to dare”  C.S. Lewis