The other day I ran across a discussion between the difference between the Apollo moon missions and how long it took to finally get the Artemis missions going. One insider said “The real genius of Apollo wasn't the technology. It was the will to do something impossibly dangerous with barely adequate tools. We have better tools now, but we've lost the stomach for the danger.” I’m glad that we are taking all the precautions for such risky journeys, but I get that we have lost at least some of that willingness to put aside fears and take larger risks. During World War II, a military governor met with the feisty and controversial General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, “Sir, I am not a brave man…The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.” But said later “I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.” There are a lot of things that bring fear to our hearts. And so often we will not step out in faith because we are just scared; of what might happen to us, how people might respond to us or we just don’t want to run the risk of failure. Fear can paralyze us and keep us from stepping out boldly in faith. God never asks us to go and do the foolish on our own. But he does ask us to trust him. And when the future seems so tenuous or just plain frightening, the tendency is for us to just give up. We feel we just don’t have it in us. God knows how we feel and he knows our limitations better than we do. But he also promises us that he will be with us, he will strengthen us and he will protect us, when we are about doing his will. In the Bible, Joshua was given the role of leadership of all the Jewish nation and was to lead them into the land that God had promised them. The lives and fortunes of hundreds of thousands of people were now his responsibility and God pretty much told Joshua not to “take counsel of his fears”. God told him that he would be with him and that he would not fail him or abandon him. He was to be strong and courageous. But to go with the courage of fighting great battles was the need to be careful to obey the instructions that God had already given. Life can seem dangerous and there will be times when we just don’t feel we have the stomach for the danger. Remember you are never alone in your journey and all that it brings. The God who loves you is also your strong protector. Keep your eyes and heart on him and not on your fears. And God will
not only bring you through the hazards of life but will give you success in his sight. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Joshua 1:5-7 NLT No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. (6) “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. (7) Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
not only bring you through the hazards of life but will give you success in his sight. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Joshua 1:5-7 NLT No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. (6) “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. (7) Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ