Stepping Into Your Calling

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua 1:6-8 (NIV)

Joshua faced a huge challenge: Moses was dead. And God was saying, “Joshua, you are called. And this season demands that you be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”

In verse 6, the Lord starts with the words “Be strong and courageous.” In verse 7, He starts with the same words. Moses was great, he was special, he was strong, but now he’s dead and the next season belongs to Joshua. The Lord is saying, “You are called to lead the Israelites into the promised land, where no one will be able to defeat you as long as you live. Why? Because I will be with you as I was with Moses.” God only asks Joshua to bring his boldness to step up to the call.

God wants our willingness. When David went to see his brothers and everybody was shaking, fragile and scared, David said, “I’ll fight Goliath.” When God said, “Who can I send and who will go for us?” Isaiah said, “There might be many people around here who are qualified, but people who are qualified are not always willing. I may not be qualified, but I’m willing.”

• God doesn’t care if you’re able.
• He doesn’t care if you’re capable.
• He doesn’t care if you’re skilled.
• He doesn’t care if you’re connected.
• God needs to know if you’re willing

This is the call on each of our lives: To be strong and courageous. To trust God enough. To want to honor Him enough that we’re willing to make decisions about how He touches others through our lives. It includes the willingness to make the God-inspired decisions that are required in your life.

Do you know why you give God your willingness? Because that’s the only thing you can give.

The same way God spoke to Joshua is the same way He’s speaking to you. Be strong and courageous. You are delaying many of the steps you need to take because you’re trying to figure out when you’ll have the necessary requirements or abilities to bring to the table. But God is trying to tell you, “The only thing that I need you to bring is enough faith to be willing to show up.”