Best of Daily Reflections: Crossing Over: On Dry Ground

Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Joshua 3:17

An earlier generation of Israelites had seen waters parted as they passed over a body of water on dry ground. At the Red Sea with the Egyptian army closing in, Moses stretched out his hand and “the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land…” Now, with the soles of the feet of the priests who carried the ark resting in the waters of the Jordan, the fast-flowing river was cut off and all the people passed on dry land.

Do you ever get a sense of spiritual déjà vu? The feeling that you’ve been in a place with God before? Crossings—pivotal places of transition and challenge—do share things in common. Those commonalities—often small but not insignificant things—can reassure us when our hearts beat faster with anxiety or fear.

Years ago I went skydiving. I expected to feel absolute terror as I crouched at the open door of a propeller plane at 13,000 feet. But I never did. What I felt was déjà vu. “I’ve been here before” I thought. That leap was like a hundred other leaps of faith that had come before, and each time, sure but unseen hands held me. I was certain on that day that I would be held again. Let the details remind you of what you already know. Then move out in confidence that God will keep you in ways big and small.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

Are you in a place of challenge or transition? Look around. Does anything about your situation feel familiar? Ask God the Holy Spirit to bring to mind parallels from your past and reminders from God’s word that will center you and give you peace.

PRAYER:
Dear God, I confess that I often feel uncertainty in the course of following you. I seek comfort and reassurance from unfixed landmarks when I should be fixing my focus on you. I believe you are leading me. Help my unbelief. Please use whatever you will to draw my attention back to you. You are not a God who sets booby-traps and waits for me to fall. You are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You love your own and never abandon them, and I am yours. Help me to see the “dry ground” before me and set my focus there. Remind me that we’ve “been here before” and that you are faithful. Make me brave because of you, and use me to encourage others because you have encouraged me. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Amen.

P.S. by Mark Roberts: At certain times throughout the year, I invite others to write a few Daily Reflections. This week's reflections will be written by Leigh McLeroy. In addition to being a dear friend of mine and of The High Calling, Leigh is a writer, speaker, and a Christian with deep insight into Scripture and the Christian life. Her most recent book is Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps. I know you will be encouraged by Leigh's reflections on Joshua 3-4. I'll be back with you on Saturday.