If God is real, then what?
The question was posed last year as IF:Gathering began. Tens of thousands of women around the world gathered once again to learn, to listen, and to lean in together this weekend. If God is real…
The speakers shared truth. The worship ushered us into the sweet presence of Jesus. The story of Joshua was lifted up by dozens of voices throughout the gathering. But there’s one message in particular that grabbed my heart and immediately I couldn’t wait to share you. I sure don’t have this figured out (not that I ever really do) and so let’s just pretend there are coffees in front of us and we’re simply together to talk about what God is whispering in our hearts.
There’s this guy named Joshua and he’s kind of a really big deal in the Bible. I mean, the guy followed after Moses as the leader of the Israelites. You could say the dude had some big shoes to fill. And there are so many different stories of his trust in the Lord and his faithfulness to believe what God said but there was that one time God said walk and Joshua did – and it was a little crazy, if I’m being honest.
Well, maybe not just a little. Try “kind of really strange and odd and also crazy.”
We walk. In life, through joys and struggles, we all just keep walking into the next day.
But Joshua was leading the Israelites into battle and God said walk. Not “fight” or “prepare” or “bring sacrifices.” He didn’t ask them to write a blog post or tweet an encouraging verse or phone a friend.
Walk. Believe. Stay with it.
Friend, I don’t know what battle you’re walking into or the fight you’re in right now, but I believe you need this word from God, this reminder that God did not leave you in the desert to aimlessly wander in circles. We can not stop on lap 6.
The Israelites were going to battle against the city of Jericho but the gates were securely barred. No one could go in or out. Essentially, everything was on lock down. Do you ever feel that way? Like all doors are shut and you can’t find an ounce of hope no matter what gate you come to?
Before a single thing happened, before a single brick fell from the city wall, before they took a single step in battle, the Lord told Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands.”
Not I will — but I have.
From their eyes, the battle was just beginning. From God’s perspective the glory was His and the battle was won. He is the God of Alreadys even when we’re in the thick of it.
He tells them they will win but still, they must have thought, “Okay, cool God. That’s fantastic news and thank you so much. But if I may, how exactly do we go about this whole thing? I mean, it’s great that we come out victorious but, umm, how?”
Walk. Believe.
He told them to march around the wall of Jericho in silence. Thousands and thousands of people lined up to walk around the city wall. After completing their lap around everyone stopped and settled in to sleep. Don’t you just wonder what they were thinking?
“Y’all, nothing happened. Maybe God forgot?” “I wonder if we misheard what God said…” “Do you think we did it wrong? Maybe messed up somehow?” “This is totally not how I saw this going down. Can we just do something now?”
Day after day after day.
Night after night after night.
They walked in silence and slept in the dark, only to get up the next day and do it all over again. It’s not like a brick fell with every lap around. They saw no progress and it must have all felt so weird, so pointless.
But they did it because God called them to it and His ways are good. They could have stopped on day 4 or 5 or 6 but oh, what if they had?
Because the walls fell on day 7.
Not a brick or a portion of the wall or a gate opening up. The entire wall all the way around the city just came crashing down.
They let out a shout and in a way that only God could receive the glory, He won the victory. They kept walking, He did the winning.
I’m not sure what lap you’re on. Maybe you’ve been walking for months or years and taking one more step seems impossible. I don’t know the battle you’re facing but I know the One who can bring the walls crashing down.
It probably won’t be by your might. It probably won’t bring you glory. And really, I doubt you’ll care one iota because when the walls come crashing down the only song to be sung is one of praise to He who wins it all.
Lace up your shoes. Don’t stop walking. Don’t give up on day 6. We don’t know when the walls will fall but until God tells us anything different, we must keep on walking and believing.
It may be quiet for a while. You might lie in darkness and wonder what He’s up to. But there is a day 7.
There. Is. A. Day. 7.
Don’t give up on 6.
++++
*You can read the full story in Joshua 6. (Funny, huh? 6.)
I promise for realz, I wanted to give up on day 5 and 6 but oh friends… I would have missed out on so much of His goodness.
*If you’re willing, share below in the comments with me… are you still walking? Celebrating day 7? Have an encouraging word for someone entering the battle or continuing to walk? Please feel free to leave it below.
This is similar to a Steven Furtick sermon: http://elevationchurch.org/sermons/dont-stop-on-6/
So many IF stories of inspiration. I hosted an IF:Local and was blown away by Gods work through this event. But ok this post is great. Such a great teaching and I love love love this… “It’s not like a brick fell with every lap around. They saw no progress and it must have all felt so weird, so pointless.”. Because that’s when we usually give up is when we see no progress. Thanks for yet another reminder to keep going! <3 stopping in for Coffee from Holley's!
It was amazing, wasn’t it? I really enjoyed reading different blog posts and Facebook posts and hearing everyone’s stories! God is on the move.
Beautifully written. I’ve been reading Joshua this week and I love what you had to say. Thanks for the reminder to not give up! I followed you over from Holley Gerth’s link-up and I am so glad I did!
I just started blogging about my own faith journey and I’d love for you to check it out!
http://iamunabashed.blogspot.com/2015/02/be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god.html
Thanks for visiting over here, Katie. Holley’s link-up is one of my favorites! Have a wonderful week. :)
Hi Kaitlyn,
I love this story about faith! And you are so right — just when we want to give up is when we should hold on — to see what God can do with us, through us and for us! Love the post!
Yes! Just when we want to give up is when we should hold on. Thanks for visiting, Valerie!
I was sick all weekend and watched every second of IF in bed on my Kindle – it was empowering. Christine Caine blew me away. I refuse to stop at day 6!
I watched in my own room and it was neat to worship while watching my computer – knowing thousands around the world were doing the same thing right then. Keep on for day 7!
Love that you are sharing your experience with IF – means so much to those of us that missed out. #coffeeforyourheart. Have a great day! Kim Stewart kimstewartinspired.com
Oh man I’m so sorry you missed it! I had a huge performance the weekend after IF so I was in dance rehearsals during most of the sessions. Which means I was up into the wee hours of the morning catching up. :) I bet a bunch are on video somewhere and I know there’s a digital download you can purchase. Totally worth it.
Oh I LOVE this story!!! I wrote a similar blog post on my blog – it was like “I’m strait up against my own personal Jericho. But I’m just going to believe God that as I keep trusting Him He will make those walls fall.” And those walls did fall!! I was in a season of struggle with my husband that felt totally irrational and completely out of the blue. I could only believe that God would bring us some resolution and bring peace back to our marriage and God totally did. He brought us back from the edge and it wasn’t anything I did or stopped doing – it was just God.
I’m not sure if you’ll see this comment but if you do, will you comment back with a link to the blog post? I’d love to read it! I’m so glad to hear that He brought peace! “It was just God.” Always really is, huh?
Words cannot explain how much I needed and love this. This was my first year knowing anything about IF and I’m still amazed at all that God did.
Wish we could grab a cup of coffee, Courtney. Thanks for visiting over here. He’s too cool, I know!
I love this! Thanks for the encouragement. I hosted an IF local for the first time and was just blown away by the power of the spirit present among our group.
Sara I’d love to hear more about your IF:Local! I really enjoyed and was encouraged by the stories from IF:Locals shared on Facebook.