Be strong and courageous! We are called by God and confident in that, but sometimes we still need to hear, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!”
That reiterated command comforts me. This is not the first time Joshua will hear these words. He has heard them twice already in this conversation from Joshua 1. Moses admonished Joshua with these same words back in Deuteronomy 31:7. Joshua has heard these words more than once, which makes me think he needed to hear them more than once. I do too. I often find myself wishing God would repeat His command to me—or wishing that I had listened and believed fully the first time.
In my experience, moments of doubt can jump out of dark places and leave me a little paralyzed. There have been times when I have been convinced I am called by God to lead people toward Him. I yell, “Who cares what the world says,” and stand fearless in that calling. Also, there have been times when the opposition stacks up, and I listen to the voices at war with my confidence. Then, I yell, “Who cares what God says,” and I wonder why God would call a worm like me. Let me clarify that statement:
The opposition stacking up against me, that’s normally my voice. I’m the one who is seduced by fear and doubt. Hmmm, I doubt God wants to use someone like me. I don’t really like admitting that. I doubt.
So, what do you do? What happens when fear or doubt makes you question your calling? What happens when the church votes “no,” or when there is only silence where you expected to hear, “Best sermon ever, pastor!”? What happens when you convince yourself that selling vacuums door to door might be better for your family than your call to preach? When logic battles with calling, does calling still hold the final trump card?
There are a few things that God does to remind me of His faithfulness in calling weak vessels:
Celebrate your calling
Paul tells Timothy to return to a place of calling. 1 Timothy 4:12, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the elders.”
There were people whom you trusted in the room. They examined your life and agreed with God. They prayed for you and sang, and we had cake after. There was a time that we celebrated how God was calling you, and we all came together to lay hands on you. We celebrated then; you can celebrate now. Stop and celebrate today. Remember the ones who laid hands on you then. Who is laying hands on you today? Make a call and laugh together about the fact that the God who chose a shepherd to save a nation chose you, too.
Say thank you
I have expressed my thanks to the God of the universe countless times. I have said ‘thank You God’ for miracles and the mundane. I’m still surprised at the fact that God is the Good Father who gives good gifts to His little ones, and I enjoy expressing my appreciation.
However, there is a truth that is far beyond my understanding when it comes to thanking Jesus. I cannot grasp nor describe the joy that comes from praising God when I don’t feel like it. Praising God for a persecution that draws me closer to the Holy Spirit and leaves me in need of help from the Helper fills me up with joy. It fills me. I relate more to Christ and His cross when I suffer and surrender my thanks. Have you said ‘Thank You’ when it is hard to say? Thank You changes my heart. Thank You changes everything.
Talk to the Father
This one is my favorite. When I am fighting the bully doubt, or any enemy of my calling, spending time with God is always the path that I need to travel the most, and often my last resort. I need to talk to the Father.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah sits there by the cave with the world going bonkers all around, and he hears God.
Have you stolen away from the distraction of the bonkers for enough time to hear God?
Have you asked the Father?
Are you willing to listen until God says, “Have I not commanded you…”. Are you willing to listen again? Again?
I have beaten myself up for failing. I have re-run conversations in my head. I have spent days in denial. I have never said, “I spent too much time with the Father.”
What happens when doubt rears its head at your calling? Are you still called by God?
Be strong and courageous, Joshua. He has called you to lead into the promised land. Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous in your calling today!
Tree Cooper is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Windsor, CO.
