Courage to Stay the Course. Courage to Keep the Faith Focus.

A recent devotional from www.InTouch.org prompted me to examine how I handle the obstacles in my life. Referring to the story of 12 spies, Numbers 13:25-14:10, it basically asked to whom am I listening and trusting; the 10 pessimistic discouragers or the two optimistic encouragers.

 
When the Hebrew children heard the terrifying description of the 10, "…all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? …would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’” Numbers 14:1-3 NASB

 

Earlier on their journey to the Promised Land, they stood between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army they of course thought they were doomed. “There’s no time to go around it. We can’t go over it. And I’m certainly not going to swim through it. We’re all going to die right here and now.”

So I asked: “Where is my focus? Is it on God’s promise or the obstacles causing me to work harder to reach the promises?”

No matter the day… the week… the month… or year, there are always obstacles thrown in the way. The path to the Promise Land is not paved with gold or lined with milk and honey and pretty flowers. It is not a smooth road without steep mountain climbs, rugged rocks, fast-moving streams, prickly vines, or slippery mud. Yes, there are sections of smooth refreshing meadows along the way, but God never promised a rose garden path to reach our Destination.

So what do we do? Should we go around, over, under, or through them? Can we move them out of the way? Or wait for God to part them as He did the Red Sea?

Seek the Lord. Ask Him. Just don’t run away from them.

Each day, we must prepare for the difficult obstacles the enemy puts in our way. We must first resolve in our thoughts to keep on keepin’ on no matter the hurdles. We must lace our boots with courage and faith. We must look up to the One waiting at the end with a glass of milk and a honeybun for the victors. 

Stay the course. Keep the faith focus.