Introduction

Good morning, church family! It's a joy to be here with you today. We've got a pretty interesting topic to chew on this morning, and it's one that I believe could make a real difference in our lives.

Before we get into it, I'd like to share a quote with you. It's from a man named A.W. Tozer, who was a pretty influential Christian pastor and author. He once said, "Outside of the will of God, there's nothing I want. And in the will of God, there's nothing I fear." I think that's a pretty powerful statement, don't you? It speaks to the heart of what we're going to be talking about today. So let's keep that in mind as we look at our Scripture passage.

Trust in God's Guidance

When we look at the passage from Joshua, we see a clear example of trusting in God's guidance. Joshua and the Israelites were standing at the edge of the Jordan River, facing a seemingly impossible situation. The river was at flood stage, making it dangerous and difficult to cross. But God had given them a promise. He had promised to lead them into the Promised Land, and they had to trust that He would guide them safely across the river.

This wasn't an easy thing to do. It required a lot of faith. They had to believe that God would do what He said He would do, even when it didn't make sense. They had to trust that He would protect them and guide them, even when the path ahead looked dangerous and uncertain.

And that's exactly what they did. They trusted in God's guidance. They followed His instructions, and He did exactly what He said He would do. He stopped the flow of the river, allowing them to cross on dry ground. This is a powerful example for us. It shows us that we can trust in God's guidance, even when we don't understand His plan. It shows us that He is faithful to His promises, even when the path ahead looks uncertain. Now, let's look at some specific aspects of this idea.

A. First, trusting in God's guidance means believing that He has a plan. Even when we can't see the whole picture, we can trust that God is working things out for our good. He sees the end from the beginning, and He knows exactly what He's doing. We may not understand His methods, but we can trust His motives. He is a good and loving God, and He wants what's best for us.

B. Second, trusting in God's guidance means following His instructions. Just like the Israelites had to follow God's instructions to cross the Jordan River, we need to follow God's instructions in our lives. This means reading His Word, praying, and seeking His will in all things. It means obeying His commands, even when they don't make sense to us. It means walking in faith, not in sight.

C. Third, trusting in God's guidance means relying on His strength. We can't do it on our own. We need God's help. We need His strength and His wisdom. We need His grace and His mercy. We need to lean on Him, and trust that He will give us everything we need to follow His guidance.

D. Finally, trusting in God's guidance means persevering in faith. We can't give up when things get tough. We can't lose heart when we don't understand what's happening. We have to keep trusting, keep believing, and keep following God's guidance. We have to persevere in faith, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.

Leadership Outside Comfort Zones

Joshua's leadership was put to the test in a situation that was far from comfortable ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO