Comfort In Times of Transition and Change

After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.”

Joshua 1:1-5 NLT

All of us go through times when things around us change. This can bring discomfort, fear, and even anger. We generally love what we know. When the formidable leader Moses died, it became Joshua’s turn to lead. I can’t image how different things were in his life during this transition. This is an outline of how it played out:

• Changing relationships—his friend and mentor Moses dies.
• Changing role—taking the place of a popular leader.
• Changing responsibility—now in charge of leading an entire nation.
• Changing location—relocation, and it’s BIG!

What can we learn from this great biblical story of transition and change?

1. Lean on God’s Provision.
2. Listen to God’s Promises.
3. Look for God’s Purpose.
4. Live in God’s Prosperity.
5. Latch on to God’s Power.

Pray with me this prayer:

Dear God, you know the things in my life that challenge me most. Help me to learn from this story and to never forget what you promised Joshua as he took on this responsibility. I believe that no matter what you call me to do, you will give me the strength to do it. Amen.