Joshua 4

How do we face our future?  How do we deal with our past?

Joshua and the people of the nation of Israel were getting ready to cross over into the land God had promised to them.the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant step into the water and the river stops.  It doesn’t just stop. It backs up about twenty-three miles, during flood stage, for hours. Roughly two million people crossed over while the Jordan river waited.

Joshua, under God’s direction, does something odd then.  He sends back twelve men, one from each tribe, to pick up a large rock to use as a memorial.  In all of the Jewish history, you only see this a few times.

Today may be a day of struggle for you.  I know that, in our house, not much feels like it is going right.  I’m not sleeping very well.  Doors are staying shut, promises are unfulfilled.  We try and try but it just doesn’t seem to be worth it.

I don’t want to hear about the silver lining.  I don’t want to hear about staying faithful, God’s testing, learning patience, or any other cliché of Christianity.  I want my family to quit hurting.  I want there to be peace and healing for them.

Funny thing is, God wants the same thing.  You know God, the God, the one who created universe.  The being that even in His human form could speak to waves and have them obey.  The one who, with a word, defeated vast armies, fed thousands, turned sorrow into joy.

Yeah, that guy.

He wants peace and healing for my family too.

So I check my heart.  Am I prepped to party or am I waiting to be let down?  Am I trusting His timing, His goodness, His love and mercy or looking at the price of gas, the politicians in debates, the anger of Muslims, the brokenness of my life?

“My ways are higher, my thoughts are higher…”  God says this in the book of Isaiah.  

It’s true.

So I’m going to trust Him.  And get ready to watch miracles happen!