Embracing Transitions: Faithful Steps into New Seasons
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the theme of "critical crossings" through the lens of Joshua's leadership as the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This moment was not just a physical crossing but a significant spiritual transition, marking a new chapter for the Israelites. We reflected on the importance of these pivotal moments in our lives, asking the question, "So now what?" This question can arise after both triumphs and trials, prompting us to consider our next steps and how we transition into new seasons.
Joshua's story teaches us the necessity of embracing pauses in our lives. These pauses are not meant to frustrate us but to prepare us for what lies ahead. Just as Joshua and the Israelites camped by the Jordan for three days, we too must use our waiting periods for preparation, ensuring we are ready for the opportunities God has prepared for us.
We also discussed the importance of mentorship and following God's guidance. Joshua's relationship with Moses exemplifies the value of learning from those who have walked the path before us. God provides direction, even when we feel unworthy or uncertain, reminding us that our past does not disqualify us from His promises.
Taking the first step is crucial. God often requires us to move in faith before He performs a miracle. The Israelites had to step into the Jordan before the waters parted, teaching us that action is often required on our part to see God's promises fulfilled.
Finally, we considered the significance of remembering and testifying. The stones carried from the Jordan served as a memorial for future generations, reminding them of God's faithfulness. Our testimonies of God's work in our lives not only honor Him but also encourage others.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace the Pause: In moments of waiting, God is preparing us for what lies ahead. These pauses are opportunities for growth and readiness, not frustration. Use this time to prepare for the promises God has for you. [30:09]
2. Follow the Leader: God provides guidance even when we feel unworthy. Like Joshua, we must be willing to follow His lead, trusting that He will direct our steps despite our past mistakes. [45:50]
3. Take the Step: Faith often requires action. Just as the Israelites stepped into the Jordan before the waters parted, we must be willing to move forward in faith, trusting God to perform the miracle. [51:45]
4. Carry and Bury: As we transition into new seasons, we must discern what to carry forward and what to leave behind. Some lessons are meant to be carried into the future, while others must be buried to prevent them from hindering our progress. [55:47]
5. Remember and Testify: Our experiences of God's faithfulness are powerful testimonies. By remembering and sharing these stories, we honor God and inspire others to trust in His promises. [01:02:08]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [27:12] - Crossing the Jordan
- [30:09] - Embrace the Pause
- [35:01] - Healthy Transitions
- [38:58] - Faith vs. Fear
- [45:50] - Follow the Leader
- [49:22] - The Value of Mentorship
- [51:45] - Take the Step
- [55:47] - Carry and Bury
- [01:02:08] - Remember and Testify
- [01:07:35] - Popcorn Testimonies
- [01:10:00] - Invitation to Salvation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Critical Crossings
Bible Reading:
- Joshua 3:14-17
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River, and how did it differ from their previous crossing of the Red Sea? [30:09]
2. How did Joshua's leadership and relationship with Moses prepare him for leading the Israelites into the Promised Land? [49:22]
3. What role did the Ark of the Covenant play during the crossing of the Jordan River, and what does it symbolize in this context? [51:45]
4. Why did Joshua instruct the Israelites to carry stones from the Jordan River, and what purpose did these stones serve? [01:02:08]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "embracing the pause" apply to the Israelites' three-day wait by the Jordan River, and what might this teach us about waiting periods in our own lives? [30:09]
2. In what ways does Joshua's story illustrate the importance of mentorship and following God's guidance, even when feeling unworthy or uncertain? [45:50]
3. What does the act of stepping into the Jordan River before the waters parted teach us about the relationship between faith and action? [51:45]
4. How can the practice of remembering and testifying about God's faithfulness, as demonstrated by the stones from the Jordan, impact future generations? [01:02:08]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "critical crossing" in your life. How did you handle the transition, and what did you learn from it? [30:09]
2. Are there any "pauses" in your life right now that you find frustrating? How can you use this time for preparation and growth instead? [30:09]
3. Who are the mentors or leaders in your life that you look up to, and how have they influenced your spiritual journey? How can you seek out or strengthen these relationships? [49:22]
4. Consider a situation where you need to take a step of faith. What is holding you back, and how can you trust God to guide you through it? [51:45]
5. Identify something from your past that you need to "bury" to move forward into a new season. What steps can you take to leave it behind? [55:47]
6. How can you create a "memorial" in your life to remember and testify about God's faithfulness? What story of God's work in your life can you share with others to encourage them? [01:02:08]
7. Think about a current challenge you are facing. How can you apply the lessons from Joshua's leadership and the Israelites' journey to navigate this challenge with faith and courage? [38:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Pause for Preparation
In moments of waiting, God is actively preparing us for what lies ahead. These pauses are not meant to frustrate us but to serve as opportunities for growth and readiness. Just as Joshua and the Israelites camped by the Jordan for three days, we too must use our waiting periods for preparation, ensuring we are ready for the opportunities God has prepared for us. Embracing these pauses allows us to reflect, pray, and seek God's guidance, so we are equipped to step into the new seasons He has planned for us. [30:09]
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is asking you to pause and prepare? How can you use this time to grow and ready yourself for what He has in store?
Day 2: Trusting God's Guidance Despite Our Past
God provides guidance even when we feel unworthy. Like Joshua, we must be willing to follow His lead, trusting that He will direct our steps despite our past mistakes. Joshua's relationship with Moses exemplifies the value of learning from those who have walked the path before us. God’s direction is not contingent on our worthiness but on His faithfulness and grace. By trusting in His guidance, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that our past does not disqualify us from His promises. [45:50]
"And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them." (Isaiah 42:16, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a past mistake that makes you feel unworthy of God's guidance? How can you begin to trust in His promise to lead you despite your past?
Day 3: Faith in Action
Faith often requires action. Just as the Israelites stepped into the Jordan before the waters parted, we must be willing to move forward in faith, trusting God to perform the miracle. Taking the first step is crucial, as God often requires us to act in faith before He reveals His power. This act of stepping out demonstrates our trust in Him and our willingness to be part of His plan. By taking action, we open ourselves to witnessing the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives. [51:45]
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one step of faith you feel God is calling you to take today? How can you act on this prompting, trusting Him to guide you?
Day 4: Discernment in Transition
As we transition into new seasons, we must discern what to carry forward and what to leave behind. Some lessons are meant to be carried into the future, while others must be buried to prevent them from hindering our progress. This discernment is crucial for healthy transitions, allowing us to embrace new opportunities without being weighed down by past burdens. By seeking God's wisdom, we can identify what is essential for our journey and what needs to be released. [55:47]
"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." (Philippians 3:13, ESV)
Reflection: What is one thing from your past that you need to leave behind as you move into a new season? How can you begin to let go of it today?
Day 5: The Power of Testimony
Our experiences of God's faithfulness are powerful testimonies. By remembering and sharing these stories, we honor God and inspire others to trust in His promises. The stones carried from the Jordan served as a memorial for future generations, reminding them of God's faithfulness. Our testimonies not only honor Him but also encourage others to see His work in their lives. Sharing our stories of God's goodness can strengthen the faith of those around us and build a community rooted in His love. [01:02:08]
"Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul." (Psalm 66:16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one testimony of God's faithfulness in your life that you can share with someone today? How might your story encourage them in their own faith journey?
Quotes
Joshua was going to be doing things in the chapters ahead, in the season ahead of his life. Joshua was going to accomplish things that Moses was never able to do. And God needed him to capture his now moment and embrace it and know the importance and significant of how critical it was that he had a good healthy crossing. [00:31:06] (23 seconds)
Because the seasons that were coming up, Kayla, God knew that he needed a healthy, strong Joshua to accomplish them. He didn't need weak Joshua. He needed a strong Joshua to accomplish those things. So we're seeing now where Joshua as in his now moment. The nation of Israel crossing the Jordan River that God, going into the promised land that God had promised them decades before. [00:31:46] (26 seconds)
And now they're coming out of 40 years of wandering in the wilderness because they were here at this river 40 years prior. But fear and worry and doubt had kept them from crossing. And now we see Joshua in his now moment ready to take and accomplish those things which the prior guard was not able to do. [00:32:47] (26 seconds)
And so God needs him to be strong and courageous. He needs us to be a healthy transition. Because listen, friend, if you have unhealthy transitions into whatever, a next job, a next season, whatever your next thing of life is, if you have an unhealthy transition, I also know you're going to have an unhealthy outcome. [00:33:19] (23 seconds)
That where you get, you'll bring that unhealthiness with you. Amen. Now I think that this one, this crossing of the Jordan, this parting of the waters doesn't get as much fanfare as the previous one did, the crossing of the Red Sea, where Moses raised his staff, the God parted the Red Sea, right? We've all seen, you know, the pictures. [00:33:53] (22 seconds)
And I think they, Hollywood made a movie about that one, the parting of the Red Sea. Who was it like? Charlton Heston, that good looking strapping dude. I don't think that's what Moses looked like, but that's Hollywood's version for you. So, but then, but here's what's interesting. This one doesn't get as much, this one didn't get no Hollywood love, but I think this one is of much more significance. [00:34:33] (24 seconds)
When I look at the motive between the previous water crossing and this water crossing, cross. If you look at the previous one, it was pretty easy. They had an Egyptian army chasing them and God parted the Red Sea. They looked at it and said, whoa, look at that. And he said, there you go. And they crossed on over and Hollywood made a movie and it was beautiful. [00:35:13] (25 seconds)
And friends, I don't want to try to push you into a Christianity, a love of God. I don't want to have to force you across a Red Sea. I want you to be so drawn by the love of God. I don't want you to just see a God of rules. I want to want you to see that Jesus loves you so much that you can't help but take a step in that river. You are drawn to the things that God has for you. Amen. [00:36:33] (28 seconds)
I watch my kids go through training. All my kids are kind of getting into their adult ages and, and it's fun to watch them walking through their, their transitions. And I know it's really, it's critical to have good, healthy transitions because anyone that's raised teenagers know you get, you hit some critical crossings along the way. Amen. [00:37:32] (17 seconds)
Some crossings that demand some, some patience and some prayer and some spiritual navigation. Amen. But what I'm seeing now is that if you can transition well, if I can cross well, you will enjoy the adult relationships that you will have when you get it on the other side of that Jordan river. Amen. So I know that I can enjoy that as assuming that I don't kill them. [00:38:12] (30 seconds)
Amen. And we all know, cause on the other side of that Jordan, the promised land has grandkids. Come on somebody. And grandkids. And we, we've said it, but grandkids are your reward for not killing your children when they're teenagers. Okay. I'm telling you that. Amen. But this is Joshua's now moment and he feels the weight of this. [00:38:52] (22 seconds)
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