Help! I Need to Know Where to Go!

So we're at a critical point in our lives right now.   The stresses of life have taken a toll.  Some things need to change.  Life altering changes.  The tipping point has arrived.  But what direction do we take?  Which way is the right way to go?  Don't want to take a step without confirmation from the Lord that "this way" is the right way.

Waiting to hear from the Lord...waiting...waiting...but the pressure cooker is about to pop...need to hear, in a panic, which way do we go?!?!  Don't want to act in haste...desperately searching the Scriptures to find a Word of direction...ahhhhh!

Anyone relating to this?

Came across Joshua 3 this morning.  God tells Joshua to instruct the people of Israel on how to prepare themselves to cross the Jordan...to take this new journey or direction in their lives.

He says three things in verses 3-5:
1).  Set out from where you are
2).  Stand back so you can see
3).  Sanctify yourselves

The Bible doesn't say whether the Israelites were afraid of what they would find after crossing the Jordan.  Well, for that matter...how were they going to cross the Jordan during flood season in the first place?   Their mighty leader, Moses, was dead.  Were they sure of Joshua's leadership?  I'm thinking not since God told Joshua further down in the chapter that He would magnify him in the eyes of the people so that they would know God was with him as He was with Moses.

So, I'm thinking the Israelites were, if not scared, at least very nervous about which path or direction to take in moving forward.

I find many significant meanings in this Scripture.  On the surface...God went BEFORE the people into their unknown.  This tells me God doesn't tell you to go somewhere where He doesn't go before you.  God knew what was facing his people on the other side.  Though they probably didn't realize it until hindsight, God had been preparing them for what they would find on the other side for years.

If you dig deeper, though, I think we find even more revelation relating to this Blog's theme about being stuck and not knowing which way to go.

A commentary I read this morning brings insight into the three directives from God listed above:

"Set out from where you are"
The Israelites came to the Jordan in faith, having been told that they should pass it.  "In the way of duty, let us proceed as far as we can, and then depend on the Lord. The people were to follow the ark.  We must walk after the rule of the word, and the direction of the Spirit, in everything; so peace will be upon us as was upon the children of Israel.  

All their way through the wilderness was an untrodden path, but mostly so in crossing the Jordan. While we are here, we must expect and prepare to pass ways that we have not passed before; but in the path of duty we may proceed with boldness and cheerfulness. Whether we are called to suffer poverty, pain, labour, persecution, reproach, or death, we are following the Author and Finisher of our faith; nor can we set our feet in any dangerous or difficult spot, through our whole journey, but faith will there see the prints of the Redeemer's feet, who trod that very path to glory above, and bids us follow him, that where he is, we may be also."

"Stand back so you can see"
God told Joshua to have the people stand back from the ark about a mile and follow from that distance so as to always be able to see it (God) and know which way to go.  AND, I believe, in order for all to see the greatness of the miracle about to happen.  So, stand back-get out of the way-and watch God work a miracle in your life.

"Sanctify yourselves"
The Israelites were to sanctify themselves. If we are to experience the effects of God's love and power, we must put away sin, and be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

For me these three directives tell me to use the brain and wisdom God has given me to go ahead and "set out from where I am"... get moving...do not be afraid ... "be strong, vigorous, and very courageous.  Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

Stand back and get out of the way of my situation or journey, and in humbleness and fear, watch for the miracles of God about to happen.

Sanctify myself...be careful to remain pure of heart, seeking only God's face in all things, humble-without pride, in all things do not grieve the Holy Spirit.

Bearing Burdens

So, don’t you agree that everyone pretty much tries their best to avoid pain?   I mean, it’s a natural thing for humans to run from it.  Who wants to experience pain?  And yet in Galatians 6:2 Paul suggests the opposite for Christians.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ and complete what is lacking in your obedience to it.”

Bearing someone’s burden should be painful, don’t you agree?  I think sacrifice is required to bear it adequately.  But today I want to talk about the one experiencing the burden.  I’m thinking that, for most of us who have been in this position, we tend to “take on” more pain than is usual in bearing our burdens.  Why?  Because it just drives us mad to see a brother or sister in Christ carry or endure our burden on our behalf.  To observe them “sharing” our pain and suffering.  To see their sacrifice in order to ease our burden.  On top of the pain we’re already experiencing, we take on additional self-inflicted pain because of the suffering or sacrifice it causes others.

There could be a whole number of things going on in the brain/heart of the one suffering.  Perhaps she feels guilty or responsible for the burden she’s carrying?  Maybe she is embarrassed about her burden and she doesn’t want anyone to know about it?  She feels she has to “fix it” herself.  She feels she deserves it?  And, no one else should suffer because of her perceived mistakes?  Perhaps she’s a seasoned Christian and feels it is her responsibility to bear her own burden showing strong perseverance with Christian maturity…she finds it difficult to show weakness in allowing someone else to carry the burden as well.

You know, the word “bear” in Greek means to carry, to lift…(as you might suspect)…usually that translates into real life as lifting a friend up in prayer, checking up on them, sending cards of remembrance, bringing over a casserole, crying with them, etc.  But, did you know the word “bear” also means to receive, to endure?  These words definitely involve pain and sacrifice.

When a brother or sister in Christ is willing to do this…then for some reason it gets “icky” for the one bearing the burden.  They do not want to see their friend(s) suffer because of them.  They don’t want their friend(s) to have to sacrifice, to endure the pain personally…this is tough to accept on the part of the one experiencing the burden.

And yet, that is what The Word says we should do for one another.

So, if a friend is suffering from grief, you “bear” her burden by sacrificially giving your time to her, to sit with her and carry her grief in silence or through tears…whatever is appropriate and good.

If a friend is suffering from a financial burden, then you “bear” her burden by taking on that financial burden with her.  You “receive” it and “endure” it with her.

There are endless ways to creatively bear a fellow Christian’s burden.  But, it sometimes is difficult for the one suffering to receive the gift of sacrifice from those that want to “receive” and “endure” their burden with them.

It is so important in Kingdom living to learn how to sacrificially give AND to learn to sacrificially receive.  We are a proud lot, us humans.  We don’t want people to know we’re weak.  We don’t want people to know we screwed up.  We don’t want people to know we’re not perfect.

Good grief!   What has happened to us during our youth and along our life journey that we think we have to bear our sufferings alone?  That we can’t let anyone know about our failings or screw-up’s…that we have to preserve the facade of perfection. It totally goes against what Jesus teaches us. 

Another thought on this…often we think that it is pointless or futile for fellow Christ followers to want to help us.  They can’t take away the burden, so what’s the point…we just have to suffer through it...it is our lot in life…poor pitiful us.  

In Galatians Paul didn't say, “Take away one another burdens,” or “Fix one another’s problems.”  He said “bear” one another’s burdens.  Which is the Body of Christ carrying the load of suffering of a member, in a sacrificial manner, to ease the pain of the one suffering until the burden is lifted.

So those you who are currently doing the “carrying” and “enduring” on behalf of a brother or sister in Christ…do it sacrificially so that “in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ and complete what is lacking in your obedience to it.”

And for those of you who are currently suffering a heavy burden, do it in humility and grace, not in secret, opening yourself up to receive God’s favor in your life through the sacrificial giving of Christians around you, and, in turn, learning the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice for all.