The only way we can hope to cope when the task seems overwhelming
By Dean Collins
Sooner or later you realize that the responsibility you have been given is, in fact, bigger than you can accomplish.
It can happen at work when you receive an assignment for something you have never done before. It might happen in leadership when you are asked to lead a group with more knowledge or experience than you have. It might happen when the diagnosis is confirmed and the treatment plan is limited. It might be at the graveside when the pastor finishes his prayer and you don’t know how to take the next step without your loved one. It happens to all of us at some time in life. And if we are honest, we’ll admit it happens often.
‘The boss is dead . . .
No matter how many times and ways Joshua had seen God’s power at work through Moses the previous 40 years, the reality was that Moses was dead. And now Joshua was left in charge of what any of us would say was an insurmountable task. The assistant of Moses was told by God to finish the job he had seen his boss struggling with all these years.
God didn’t mince words. He was clear and direct with Joshua: “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.” No beating around the bush and no orientation program, either. Joshua was immediately in charge. The responsibility was on him to get the job finished.
When we are responsible for overcoming the seemingly insurmountable, what do we do? One option is just to plow ahead and hope for the best. Throw caution to the wind and see what happens. The other option is to bow before the God of the universe and confess your weaknesses and tell him that instead of relying on self, you will stand on the promises in his Word. We can trust the very words spoken by God and by our Lord Jesus.
. . . but God is with you’
Joshua was immediately told the rest of the story. Yes, God pulled no punches, but he followed up on his assignment with these words: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. . . . No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”
Joshua was given a big job, but he also could rely on his big God to work ahead of him, with him, and after him. There’s no evidence God gave Joshua a document to follow. There wasn’t an instruction manual Joshua could give to his leadership team. Each battle was different, and God didn’t share each plan until it was about to happen, and even then, it was often pretty thin on the details.
What God did say was that Joshua was to be strong and courageous and not to turn to the left or to the right but, instead, move straight ahead. His first responsibility was to trust that the God of the universe would manage the details and bring success.
Sounds familiar. It’s really the same plan Jesus left his disciples. Even ahead of his death and resurrection, he gave them a sparse outline for how to advance his kingdom:
1) I’m giving you the Holy Spirit to guide you.
2) Wait until he comes.
3) Follow my commands to love God and others.
4) Preach the gospel and disciple the nations.
5) I’ll be with you until I come back.
Jesus left them with the same encouragement God gave Joshua: I won’t abandon you or forsake you. I will be with you.
I won’t abandon you or forsake you. I will be with you.
No matter how hard we look for it, we simply aren’t going to find the documents that give us every detail and every step for leadership or for overcoming or even just fulfilling the assignment we have been given. But we do have the promises of God and of his Son. We are not alone, and he will be with us to supply every need along the way. God will keep his promises every time and every day of our journey.
He’s with us, too!
If you have a big task and aren’t sure if you can do it, then you are right where God expected you to be. He is one prayer away, always ready to help. We can be confident he will not forsake us. Our job is to be strong and courageous and trust our good Father to do his good work in and through us as we step forward in faith.
Your time with God’s Word
Joshua 1:1-3, 5-9; John 14:15-21 ESV
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