Having the Courage to Go When You'd Rather Stay
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." -- Joshua 1:9
Have you ever moved far from your home, friends, family, and favorite places—and hated it? Moves can be debilitating for many. I've moved numerous times. My husband's work often required us to move. At first, meeting new people, exploring new places, and finding new go-to spots was an adventure. I'd tell our children, "You get to make more friends!" I hoped to give them something to look forward to. Yet each move became more difficult, leaving the people and places we loved behind. We loaded tear-stained boxes in the moving van to go into the unknown. Although agonizing, after a while, I reminded myself that God called us to go. We learned to take courage that God would go with us wherever He took us. He blessed our obedience several times over.
The people of Israel hated leaving their favorite things behind, too. In Joshua 1, God transferred Israel's leadership from Moses to Joshua to lead them into Canaan. He had promised them this land as their new home. God's chosen people, who had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, missed all the bounty Egypt offered. But how could they forget how badly the Egyptians treated them? God answered their prayers for relief from oppression, but it came at a cost: leave everything they ever knew as home.
Growing up, Joshua probably heard their complaints, "Why can't we return to Egypt? We're going to die out here in the desert!" It was up to him to take this disgruntled multitude of people, who had given Moses so much grief, into the promised land. God told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9). God not only called him to lead them but promised that He would go with him the entire time.
Do you dread relocating somewhere new? If God leads you to do this, do you trust Him to go with you? Moving takes courage to let go and trust God. You will undoubtedly face discouragement and grief, but the blessings of following God outweigh your losses. You can look to God and His promise that He is with you wherever He takes you.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Is God in this move? Did He provide a new job, school, home, or a safe place?
2. If God called you to go, how can you make relocation easier for yourself and your family?
3. Before your move, can you visit the area to check out where churches, shopping, and schools are so it's not so unfamiliar?
