When I was a kid I knew exactly who I wanted to be when I grew up. There was one person who captivated my attention–one idea that captured my thoughts. If I could achieve this pinnacle of success I would know I had arrived. My dream would come true. I would be invincible. I could accomplish anything. More than money and more than fame–I knew who I had to become. I was going to be…Batman.
You know, the Caped Crusader. The Gotham Knight. Yes, those were the days. But somewhere between adolescence and graduation, reality dawned. Maybe it was when I had to make my first car payment. “Batman never had to get a job!” I’m sure I said to myself. The childlike faith was gone. I had lost the confidence that I could do anything…if I just believed.
As the reality of life settled in, my confidence continued to erode. Eventually, I felt like most adults do at one time or another: completely overwhelmed. All the “big boy” responsibilities came crashing in. Marriage, children, job, bills, mortgage–it was a whole lot easier believing I could be Batman than dealing with the pressures of daily life.
There was a man in the Bible who I think had a lot in common with me. As a kid he knew who he wanted to be when he grew up. His idol was their equivalent of a modern-day Super Hero. He was larger than life. When Joshua grew up, he wanted to be Moses.
Moses had delivered the Ten Commandments. He had seen a burning bush. He had talked with God face-to-face and lived. Everything had been going well for Joshua until one day, Moses died. Suddenly, Joshua was in charge. He had to lead millions of people to the “promised land”, and it wouldn’t be easy. “What do I do now?” He must have thought. Boy, can I relate! If someone handed me a utility belt and a cape, I wouldn’t really have a clue what to do with them.
Joshua was where we often find ourselves. He was overwhelmed– weak and totally afraid. In short, he was in over his head. How do we know? Because God immediately attempted to comfort Joshua as he faced his new responsibilities.
“I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people…do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
And so it was. Joshua would lead Israel to many great victories. Remember Jericho? That was Joshua. He had obviously dealt with his fear. He had certainly found his courage. Did he still feel overwhelmed sometimes? Probably. Did he still struggle with fear? Almost certainly.
It’s in our moments of greatness weakness when we need God’s strength the most. In the story of Joshua God promised him three things – they were the essentials to achieving his purpose in life. God said, “I will not abandon you.” Translation? God’s presence will always be with us. Then God said, “I will not fail you.” Implication? God’s power will always work through us. Finally God said, “I will make you successful.” Meaning? God’s promises will always prevail for us.
There’s no substitute for the power of God operating in our lives. When He’s working for us, there’s no one who can be against us. That’s why Psalms says, “(God’s) power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!”
When circumstance tells us our situation is impossible, our faith says anything is possible with God’s power. Jesus said, “Humanly speaking, it’s impossible. But with God everything is possible."
Do we really understand that God’s power is all we need? It doesn’t matter where we go or what we face. God is with us! His power has the potential to completely change our lives. It’s just waiting to be released into our situation.
Are you out of answers? Do you need the power of God? Be strong and courageous! Release the power of God in your life! It makes all the difference in the world!