What to Do When Things Appear to Be “Going South”
Have you ever felt like things in your life were “going south”? Are the consequences of a poor decision hitting home? All of us can relate to feeling this way along our journey. In Joshua chapter 10, we discover some amazing realities about our great God. These will be an encouragement to us the next time we find ourselves in a situation where it appears that things are “going south.”
When things appear to be “going south,” remember…
1. The Lord our God will fight for us (vs. 1-11)
- When God is on the move, opposition will arise (cf. Jn. 15:18-19, Jn. 16:33; Acts 4)
- In the face of opposition:
- the Lord’s Word will encourage us (cf. Isa. 41:10; Php. 4:13; Rom. 15:4)
- the LORD our warrior, will fight for us (cf. Ex. 14:13-14, 15:3; Dt. 20:4; Ps. 3:1-8; Rom. 12:19)
Opposition is to be expected, but the Lord is with you, and He will encourage you and fight for you. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9; Dt. 31:8).
2. The Lord our God will hear us (vs. 12-15)
- “Call on Him as long as you live” (cf. Ps. 116:1-2)
- “Approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” (cf. Heb. 4:16; Rom. 8:34)
- Prayer aligns our will with the Lord’s will (cf. Mt. 26:36-44)
God, all-knowing and all-powerful, demonstrates His love for us by bending His ear to hear the prayers of His people. Let us take full advantage of this incredible privilege and call on Him as long as we live, and approach His throne of grace with confidence.
3. The Lord our God will give us the victory (vs. 16-27)
- In the battle, we must remain faithful and intentionally participate in, and pursue, the Lord’s purposes
- Through Christ we can live in victory, strength, and courage (cf. Rom. 8:31, 37; 1 Jn. 4:4)
- Obedience and experiencing victory go hand in hand, but God always gets the glory (cf. vs. 42)
Just because the Lord gives us the victory, doesn’t mean we can become complacent. We must obediently persevere in participating in, and pursuing, the Lord’s purposes in our lives. Through Christ, live victoriously with strength and courage that comes from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
We serve such an awesome God! So mighty, so holy, so wonderful!
Series Information
