Find Joy: A Journey To Unshakeable Wonder In An Uncertain World Shembull

The moment finally came for the ancient Israelites to enter the Promised Land and experience the life they’d been longing for. But God’s instructions sounded terrifying. God told the two or three million people—with all their animals and possessions—to follow the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant and boldly cross the Jordan River. 

Which was in flood stage. With no bridge. 

It would be like every household in Cincinnati, Ohio, gathering all their things, stepping into a storm-churned Ohio river, and somehow crossing into Kentucky. 

Can you imagine the people’s skepticism and fear? Lord, I was already worried about how we would drive out the giants in the Promised Land. But how are we going to get everyone over there to begin with? This doesn’t make sense! 

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? God has amazing things for us. Yet we’re afraid to obey as we look across the churning water.

With the Israelites, the moment they stepped into the Jordan, the waters backed up. The entire nation crossed over on dry land. 

Then God told them what to do next: take stones from the center of the river and pile them where everyone could see. Every time they looked at that cairn, they would remember this astounding thing God did. Which was essential, because crossing into the Promised Land wasn’t the end of the story—it was the beginning. There would be years of efforts to fight the scary giants and follow God in the midst of a culture that mocked Him. 

Sound familiar? But with each fight, each trial, the people of God could look at the pile of stones taken from the center of the river. Remembering what God did in the past would help them obey in the future. It would help them overcome fear and skepticism and replace it with a sense of expectancy. 

Sisters, we may have no idea how God will accomplish something He’s leading us to do. All we know is that He has something great on the other side. We need to believe God and not our fear, step into the water, and then watch what He does! Watch for each next step. 

Then, remember. We need to memorialize His faithfulness! 

It might be as simple as scrawling a few sentences in a journal. Or writing a few words on smooth rocks that we collect in a mason jar. The next time we are discouraged or unsure, we can go back to our journal. Or tip out and read those rocks. As we remember what God did the last time, we’ll be far better equipped to trust and follow God the next time. It changes everything.

Reflect

When was the last time you reflected on God’s faithfulness to you? 

What method will work for you to record what God has done? 

Right now, pray about it, commit to a method, and write that decision below. Watch your love for God grow as You remember what He’s done.