The Blessing of Today

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. 

Many of us live our lives waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for a seemingly inevitable event. Some of us are even preparing for that event. We’re playing out scenarios in our heads just in case the bad thing we are worried about happens so we will be, you know, “prepared.” All the while we may miss the good that is happening around us. 

We often miss the blessing of today because we are in fear of what might happen tomorrow. Statistics say that at least 85% of what we worry about never actually happens. That means we could potentially spend 100% of our lives in worry and fear over a 15% chance that something we worry about might actually happen. That seems to me like terrible odds and at the very least poor time management. 

Before Joshua had been given the charge of leading God’s people across the Jordan River into the promised land, twelve scouts had been sent to explore the land. They reported that it was a land flowing with milk and honey, but there were also giants in the land. Of the twelve that were sent, ten came back worried and afraid. Only Joshua and Caleb trusted that God would do what he said he would do. Joshua and Caleb didn’t lose sleep over the giants. They knew God had given them the land. They knew that the Lord their God was with them wherever they went. They were strong and courageous. They were not afraid or discouraged. They trusted in God’s word to them. 

You and I can be strong and courageous for the same reason. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Since when does God run and hide? When will God leave you? When will God turn His back on you? The answer is: never. You can trust in the promises found in His word. Stop losing sleep over things that most likely will never happen. Don’t miss the blessing of today because of the fear of what might happen tomorrow.