Status reports. This is a big part of Thanksgiving with family. Whatcha up to these days? How’s the family? Your work? Your health?
Some of the answers are fun and exciting: My nephew just got engaged! My godson’s wife is pregnant after trying for a good while! My friend got a new (to her) car after hers died! My family was all together for Thanksgiving!
Some of the answers are less fun and exciting— they are downright difficult.
Then, there is “no man’s land.” The place where we have no idea how to answer the question, “How are things?”. We feel we are going in circles, not really getting anywhere. It isn’t negative, per se, but it isn’t positive, either. It is confusing. Do I try something new? Do I stay where I am? Do I try harder? Do I back off? To quote a pastor friend of mine, “The fog I am in is thick, vision impairing, and impossible to navigate. I don’t know where I am, much less which direction to go.”
We talked last week about the fact that whether we are walking through the good, the bad, the ugly, or the mysterious unknown, we are never alone. God promises to never leave or forsake us. What a gift! So, in this “no man’s land”, we know God is with us, but how do we get out?
I was reading the Bible in Joshua 6: God had commanded the nation’s leader, Joshua, to lead His army to a city in order to take it over. God told them exactly how they were to take the city. Rather than using military strategy, they were to leave the victory COMPLETELY in the hands of the Lord. Their instructions were to get in lots of steps each day, carrying stuff which made them burn even more calories, but that was all. No fighting, no engaging the enemy – they were to do nothing that made sense. They were to be silent, and go with priests who were blowing trumpets in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. They were to basically walk in circles around the city for 6 days, on the 7th day do 7 circles, give a great SHOUT, and then take what the Lord gave them! I imagine there were some skeptics in the group.
A few questions that may have been going through my head: Why do we have to do it this way? This is really silly. Surely nothing will actually come of this! Who ever heard of taking over a city by doing nothing but marching around it?! And the Bible does tell us that the city’s people were fearful of God’s army, but there had to be some of them with smirks on their faces as they watched an army simply march a circle around their city.
However, when Josh and his crew trusted and obeyed God, and were diligent to carry out the plan God outlined, no matter how crazy it sounded, God faithfully delivered His promise of giving the city into their hands.
Sometimes, “going through the motions” of something, but seemingly getting nowhere is preparation for a clear victory. When we dedicate our day-to-day to the Lord, and trust that He has something in mind, He will show His faithfulness every time. Not in our timing, but in His. Our faithful obedience trains and prepares us for what lies ahead. Even if it looks a lot like walking in circles.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
