Please Read Joshua 3 - Crossing the Jordan

One of the most powerful details in Joshua 3 is easy to overlook. When the Israelites arrived at the Jordan River, God had not stopped the water yet. The river was at flood stage. It wasn’t a peaceful and quiet creek, but now a raging, hazardous river with powerful currents. The obstacle in front of them was very real. God had promised that He would make a way for Israel to cross, but when the priests approached the river carrying the Ark of the Covenant, they still saw rushing water.

So? Staring at the Flood Waters, what did the Priests do? They stepped in.

The miracle didn't happen while they stood safely on the bank waiting for proof. They had to put their feet in the water. Only after they stepped forward in obedience did God stop the river and provide a path across.

Faith Often Requires the First Step. We often want God to work in the opposite order.

We pray:

• "God, show me exactly how this is going to work, and then I'll move."
• "Give me certainty, and then I'll trust You."
• "Remove the obstacle, and then I'll take the step."

But sometimes God says: Take the step. Trust Me with what happens next.

That doesn't mean being reckless. Biblical faith isn't blindly doing whatever we want and expecting God to bless it. The Israelites stepped into the Jordan because God had told them to cross. Their confidence wasn't in themselves. It was in the One who had given the command.

There is a huge difference between saying, "I know this will work" and saying, "I know God is trustworthy." Faith doesn't always mean knowing the outcome. Sometimes faith simply means knowing who you're following. 

God could have brought Israel to the river during an easier season. He could have waited until the water was low. Instead, He led them there when crossing seemed especially difficult. Sometimes we assume that resistance means we're headed in the wrong direction. But difficulty isn't always a sign that God isn't leading.

Sometimes God allows us to stand in front of something bigger than we can handle so that when the way opens, there is no question about who opened it.

Israel couldn't look back afterward and say:

• "We figured that one out."

They knew God had carried them through. 

So, What Is Your Next Step? Maybe there is a "Jordan River" in front of you right now.

• A conversation you've been avoiding.
• A decision you've been praying about.
• An opportunity that scares you.
• A change you know you need to make.

Something God has placed on your heart, but you're waiting until you feel completely ready. Joshua 3:15 reminds us that you may never feel completely ready. The priests didn't need to understand how God was going to stop the river. They only needed enough faith to take the next step. And sometimes that's all God asks from us too. Not the next ten steps. Not the entire plan. Just the next faithful step.

So, My Challenge to you Today: 

Ask yourself:

What am I waiting for God to do before I'm willing to move?

Then ask a second question:

Has God already given me enough direction to take the next step?

If He has, don't let your need for certainty become an excuse for inactivity. You don't have to see the dry ground yet. You don't have to know exactly how everything will work out.

You simply have to trust the God who is leading you. Sometimes the water doesn't move until your feet get wet.

Faith isn't always seeing the path before you move. Sometimes faith is taking the next step because you trust the One who promised to make a way.

Photo Credit: Ezra Jeffrey-Comeau via unsplash.com