“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
Being in the place of ‘now ‘ but ‘ not yet ‘ is a bit like a twilight zone where the dusk has faded but the dawn not yet arisen on the new day.
The old picture has faded but the new one is not yet in the frame.
The toe has touched the water but we have not yet got in the river and we hesitate within the conflict of stepping off the dry land and into the river of life to come.
In many places and circumstances in scripture there is encouragement :
On the edge of new as the children of Israel were as they reached the promised land. “take courage”.
On the occasions of going into battle or new rulership as in Isaiah. “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed.”
As the disciples were being commissioned by Jesus to go off into the whole of the land. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
In Jesus there is never fear, never discouragement and therefore by seeking Him when we feel attacked, discouraged, undecided is a great place to start. To escape from temptation to freeze, flee or turn away.
God moves forwards with a purpose for each of us. By connecting closer with Him we can process what that might be.
We can re-engage with our part to reform or transform. Discern the vision and what we might be being called to.
Go in His strength in any opposition and have the boldness to take risks and not be static and safe.
The magnitude requires our constant drawing from Him.
It is quoted that Mother Theresa’s habit was to pause every half hour to draw on God’s presence in her business of life.
Necessary for any of us to be energised and to inspire a culture of courage.
The requisite if we are to explode into multiplication. To disconnect from where we currently are to our call to greater.
Jesus at His weakest on the cross was at His strongest drawing resurrection life from His Father.
We at our weakness can draw on Him and from His courage and be strong in weakness. He beckons us to come into the deep waters with Him. To walk on water with Him. Way maker.
The illustration shows being on the edge ready to dip the toe in and take courage to step into the water of the new. To be strong in sight of the light that pushes back the darkness.
Three Scriptures that come to mind:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””Joshua 1:9 ESV
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”Isaiah 41:10 ESV
“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””Matthew 28:20 ESV
The song. Your Nearness. Shane and Shane
https://youtu.be/hTRSnJhe89k
Lessisgreater 