Today I read in Numbers 14 where the Israelites rejected the plan of God for them to enter their promised land. Instead, they listened to the obstacles which were presented to them by 10 of the 12 scouts. It didn’t matter that God had not so long before given the 10 plagues to the Egyptians, parted the Red Sea for their crossing, brought water out of a rock, and more. They heard the obstacles, feared, and acted on their fears. Now, so many thousands of years later, I can read this and wonder why they couldn’t trust? Of course I am then checked by God’s Voice within wondering why I struggle so much with trust and be gripped with fear? It seems as though we may have the message of someone else’s story, but until we live through our own life experiences that we then learn to some degree to stand up to fear and grow our trust.

This is one of those places where I want to learn to use the 3-R’s: Recognize the fear, Reject it, and then Replace it with God’s Promises. He promises in Deuteronomy 31:8, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” I want to grow in this area for the rest of my life.