There were daunting obstacles: first the Jordan, then Jericho with its seemingly insurmountable walls. Nevertheless, Joshua pressed forward. Trust, obedience and perseverance were his secret, as District Apostle Enrique Minio from South America explains.
Reflecting on the motto that the Chief Apostle has given us this year, I was reminded of a story that I have always cherished: that of Joshua. When Moses died, God entrusted Joshua with the task of leading the Israelites—a task that required him to navigate a path full of challenges.
In the first chapter of the book of Joshua, God repeatedly tells Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage.” He urges Joshua to focus on the mission entrusted to him (Joshua 1: 6), to obey the law (Joshua 1: 7), and not to be afraid or discouraged (Joshua 1: 9).
Joshua’s courageous actions did not stem from an absence of fear, but from his trust in God’s promises and help, his obedience in the will of God, and his perseverance in faith despite the circumstances and the things he did not understand. His confidence in God’s promise sustained him, even when he faced a walled city and an enemy with greater military strength. No obstacle could deter him from fulfilling the mission entrusted to him.
The biblical story of Joshua tells us how the waters of the Jordan parted so that the people could cross on dry ground. But for this to happen, they first had to obey God. Joshua and the priests had to first touch the water with their feet before it parted.
Joshua understood that the power of God is manifested in movement—in always moving forward, even when the plan seemed as absurd as marching around Jericho in silence for six days.
Today, we also have a promise. And what God says, He does. Let us not allow obstacles to hinder us, but trust in our loving God and make room for His power. He shows us the way, and His loving devotion and blessing are always present. Let us not hesitate to follow the signs along this path. We will find them in every divine service, where God manifests Himself through the Holy Spirit. It is there that He guides us and tells us where and how to go.
Our faith in the triune God allows us to experience His love, which sustains us even when we do not understand His will. Let us always move forward without stopping. Fear is overcome by walking the path of faith.
I would like to share an experience from my childhood: I lived in a house with a long hallway that was very dark at night. When I got home, I was afraid to walk down that hallway alone, so I would call out to my mom to come and get me. She would call out to me from the window, “Come, I’m here and waiting for you.” I could not see her, but my trust, obedience, and faith in her meant that just hearing her voice made it possible for me to walk down the hallway without fear.
In the same way, God’s voice tells us, “I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1: 5–6).
Photo: Frank Schuldt