Reading: Mark 11, Psalm 37:36

“Yet he passed away, and behold, he [was] no [more]; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.”

This passage reminds me of the time in the Bible when the sun stood still. There was a moment in Joshua's life when time stopped. It was a time when God fought for Israel. Joshua was a leader of Israel after the death of Moses. God gave the children of Israel land, but the land still had giants and enemies within it, and God called them to drive them out.

Joshua 10 describes a battle in which the children of Israel were called upon to help their allies who were being overtaken. Even with Israel’s help, they were still outnumbered. God encouraged Joshua by saying not to be afraid of them; he had given them the victory and proceeded with the battle.

When they got to the battle, not only were they victorious, just as the Lord said, but the battle described in Joshua 10 talks about how much the Lord fought on their behalf on that day. In fact, the Lord's fighting was more significant than what the Israelites could do with their swords. Joshua prayed that the sun would stand still until Israel had the victory, and it did. Night did not fall, and the Lord did not stop fighting for them until all of their enemies were driven out.

This passage reminds me of that battle because God fought on their behalf and performed a miracle that has never been seen on Earth since that day. It also calls me to remember my position in Christ and his character.

Positionally, we have the victory. Whatever you're going through, whatever you're walking towards God, not only has he given you the victory in the future, but in the present, he is willing to fight with you and fight for you. This story illustrates how large our God is and the grandeur of his immense power; he can do what you cannot do.

However, this passage also invites me to battle and engage the enemy. We would only be reading about the sun standing still and Israel's victory if Joshua had engaged the enemy. What were the realities on paper if you left this up to him? There was no reason to fight; he was outnumbered, and on paper, he would lose. Joshua had to have faith and resolve in the God he served, and he believed that he had a plan and would deliver on it even if he did not understand it fully.

How many times have you felt like Joshua? You got a medical bill that was more than you planned (news of a battle), you looked at the bank account, and it was lower than you needed. You feel overwhelmed and frozen, and instead of engaging in the realities of life, you are answering the question, "Continue watching?" as Netflix beacons you to continue.

The Psalmist says of our enemies: "Yet he passed away, and behold, he [was] no [more]; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found." This could be said of the enemies you're facing if you engage in the battles you're facing today. God is not against you. He's already given you the victory.
In your journal today, identify what battles you've been avoiding and what you would need to face. Then, in your prayer time, ask the Lord for the courage and strength to face them and for the Holy Spirit to partner with you as you move towards the battles.

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