The waters ran wildly across the plains, as the spring floods swept away everything in its path. Trees tumbled like matchsticks, violently tossed by the raging currents. Wildlife, caught in its torrents, bellowed in hopeless despair. All who stood near its edges could soon find themselves sucked into this vortex of destruction.

Joshua had heard from the Lord. The destiny of the people lay on the other side of the raging waters. He was to prepare them to move into it. The word was clear. They must not; they can not delay any longer. “Tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

Parents cradled their young children; young men and fathers readied their carts; herders steadied their flocks; the elderly prepared for what might be their final day; leaders sought to bolster courage and allay fear but each saw what lay before them. The raging waters spoke only the sounds of death. Tomorrow they must cross, for the Lord has spoken.

Few slept that night. Those that did hoped to awake to calm waters and gently flowing streams but it was not so. The waters continued to spew their fury on the land. Morning broke, and the day to fulfill their destiny has now come. And still, the waters raged on.

The sounds of the shofar called the people to prepare themselves to move out, not away from the waters but towards them, not to places of safety but into the very perils of destruction. The priests had slipped the poles through the rings and lifted the the ark of the covenant. Closer and closer they came, until the waters kissed their very feet. The people, following in behind, watched and waited.

With eyes fixed firmly on their place of destiny, the priests stepped into the raging waters. Only then, did it happen. Only then, did the words spoken to Joshua come to pass. Only then, did the people fully know that as God had been with Moses, so also was He with Joshua. For the waters piled in a heap far away in Adam, the rushing waters cease to flow, as the people crossed over, into the place of their promise.

The raging waters of doubt and the uncertainty of perilous times can easily cause us to become fainthearted and given to despair. Even when we know that God has spoken, that His promises are yes and amen, that His presence is never failing we can lose sight of our destiny. And yet, so often, waters will not part and rivers abate until we have stepped into those promises with a firm determination. Faith is never passive, as if somehow just believing is going to bring forth the miracles that we so desperately hope to see. Faith is active. It is always active, taking God at His word. It is stepping into, regardless of what we see before us.

May you know His unfailing love for you as you live out all that He would desire for you.

Blessings!