God Fights the Battles He Calls You Into

Many times in life, there are major hurdles to jump . . . things that may seem difficult or impossible. It may be a sickness, a loss in the family, or perhaps a loss of a job or financial hurdle. Sometimes it could be a broken relationship with a loved one, and you have no idea how things will ever get better or how you will get through that particular situation. 

Sometimes, our circumstances seem impossible to overcome, and we are left to wonder where the help or the answer will come from  . . . 

Joshua 8:1: “Now the Lord said to Joshua: 'Do not be afraid or dismayed: take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hands, the King of Ai, his people, his city and his land.'"

In Joshua 8, we see God command Joshua to go to battle with a city that just a few chapters earlier, due to their disobedience, Israel was defeated and many Jewish men were killed, leaving the Hebrew leaders dismayed. Even though Joshua now had God’s promise that they would have victory, It would have been a very natural feeling for Joshua to be afraid or run from this task which the Lord has given him. However, Joshua had a great deal of faith that the Lord would provide for Israel all that they would need to accomplish what the Lord was asking them to do.

Just as Joshua went on to display the faith he had in God by leading the Hebrews to victory over Ai, you can do the same when facing adversity, pain, or loss. Having the faith that God can move mountains and do the impossible is important, but you also need to discipline your daily life to seek Him in scripture and in prayer. Joshua wasn’t alone in this pursuit; rather he had a team of people that joined him in his faith-filled obedience to the Lord. In the same way, tackling adversity, pain, or loss together as a family unit will help you overcome the hurdles that are before you. 

God created us to be creatures of community and He always places the support we need to overcome various trials. It is through challenging times when families join together in faith that they will emerge with a stronger bond at the end.

DIG: In John 16:33, it says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” What does it mean to have peace in Christ in the midst of adversity? How can you find a cheerful attitude knowing that Christ is in control even though times might be challenging or difficult?

DISCOVER: Discuss what the greatest challenge that you have gone through is and identify how you saw God’s hand in seeing you through that time.

DO: As a family... 

• Write down ways that you have grown closer together through adversity or trials.
• Name other times in the life of Jesus where He showed His power to overcome trials in the lives of those around Him.