“As I was . . . so will I be”

Less than a 5-minute read

This morning I am thinking of Joshua 1:5. “As I was with Moses, so will I be with you.” Condensed, “As I was . . . so will I be.” God was, is, will always be the same wonderful, present, providing, powerful, personal God! He is with us and for us today to fulfill his purposes through us.

I’m very glad for that. I need to remember and live in this truth. Perhaps it’s the same for you.

About 8 weeks ago I had full shoulder replacement surgery. That’s not such a big deal, except for the weeks after of pretty much being confined to my little apartment. I’m so thankful for my brother waiting hand and foot on me for the first two weeks after surgery, and for several others in the following weeks who chauffeured me around when I needed it.

I had a lot of time to think. Too much time perhaps. But the Lord helped me remember that often in the past I longed for open, free, no-pressure days just to be with him. Now I had the time.

At times I felt pretty discouraged. Thankfully, a few great friends would listen, and nudge me back toward the One who says, “As I was . . . so will I be.” 

The future at times has loomed huge over me like a dark shadow. Anxious questions have filled my mind. Were plans to move to New England in two months unrealistic? Could God provide for all my needs as he promises? Of course, he could! Yet, I found myself merely hoping he would.

Why make such a significant transition this late in life? I long to be closer to my kids who live on the Boston “north shore.” And I am certain that with the geographical move from Pennsylvania, God wants me to transition from hospice chaplaincy to full-time developing PursuingGodsHeart.org. Yet anxiety was pursuing me.

As my solitude morphed into a spiritual retreat, the Spirit reminded me that to have “concerns”–anxiety–about the future, was sin. “Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6) is pretty straight forward. To remain anxious would be disobedience. For me as a Jesus-follower, to not obey God is not only foolish; it is sin. Further, for me to be concerned about God’s future provision that has already been promised (Philippians 4:19), for all practical purposes, was to call him a liar. Not an option.

So God has been continuing this life-long transformation from “walking by sight” to a deeper “walking by faith.” “So we are of good courage . . . for we walk by faith and not by sight” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7 ESV).

Today, the Spirit reinforces that a Jesus-follower can be of good courage because of who God is. Faith is well–placed when placed in the right person. 

“As I was . . . so will I be” (Joshua 1:5). I can easily picture Joshua wrestling with the loss of his mentor and friend, Moses. I can imagine him anxiously thinking, “How in the world am I going to fill his shoes?!” God provides the courage of well-placed faith. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous . . . Be strong and very courageous” (1:5-7).

I notice how often Joshua had to simply move forward in faith. It seems like the God who knew the whole journey usually only revealed the next impossibility for which to trust him. Tell the folk to step out into a swollen river to cross on dry land? You’ll never know what will happen until that first step. March around Jericho in blind, crazy obedience not knowing exactly how it’s all going to turn out? Yep. And see God do crazy, amazing things.

Lord, as we face our futures, even this day, only you know the journey before us. Often you only let us know the next step. “As I was . . . so will I be.” Yes, you are faithful, true, utterly dependable, completely good, and always loving.

 “As I was with Moses, so will I be with you.” God was, is, will always be the same wonderful, present, providing, powerful, personal God! He is with us and for us today to fulfill his purposes through us.