ARE YOU AFRAID OF WHAT’S BEYOND THE NEXT BEND?

“Encourage those who are afraid. Tell them, “Be strong, fear not, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”- Isiah 35:4 (TLB).

Have you ever taken a stroll through a wooded area where the paths twist and turn, often with a sense of mystery and exploration as you navigate the changing scenery of the trees and foliage? The sunlight filters through the tree canopy, the air fills with the earthy scent of the forest, the birds chirp, and you get occasional glimpses of wildlife as you walk along. And through it all, you wonder what is beyond the next bend. When you reach the next bend, you decide to take the new path, not knowing what is ahead but trusting it will be another opportunity to appreciate the peaceful surroundings further and soak in the atmosphere.

But that is often not how we approach life. We are so caught up with what we can’t see we’ll miss what we can. Plus, once we get to that bend, we want to know what is beyond the next one. When we get caught up in this cycle, we fear what could be bad and miss what could be good.

Joshua understood fear. When the book of Joshua opens, he’d just assumed authority for several million former slaves — the Israelites — headed for an enemy-filled land. The people were uneasy, and the challenges looked immense. Moses, the trusted former leader, was dead. You could imagine Joshua must have had concerns, if not outright fears, about what was around the next bend.

But God’s plan wasn’t for Joshua to ignore his fear or pretend it didn’t exist; instead, it was for Joshua to press past the fear and lay hold of faith. In Joshua 1:9 (TLB) God says, “Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8 details the importance of meditating on the Word of God: “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:5 talks about remembering the faithfulness of God in the past. “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.”

Billy Graham received a question on fear: “Can God help me overcome my fears? I know I shouldn’t be this way, but I’m always worrying about what might happen to me or my children, and things like that. Sometimes it’s all I can think about. I even have nightmares about bad things that might happen to us.” His answer was: “Yes, God wants to help you overcome these fears. He loves you, and He doesn’t want you to be haunted by constant fear and anxiety. The Bible says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV).

We don’t know what lies beyond the bend tomorrow, next week, month, or year. But what is happening today or tomorrow is in the hands of God. We need to keep walking with Him, no matter how good, bad, or ugly the trail we are on looks. For God knows what’s around the bend, and that makes all the difference. Psalm 27:1 (CEV) says, “You, Lord, are the light that keeps me safe. I am not afraid of anyone. You protect me, and I have no fears.”

Discussion Questions:

Do you fear what lies beyond the next bend? Does that fear affect the way you live?
How would a renewed trust in God help you overcome those fears?