NOBODY CAN STOP YOU
The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid
of them; I have given them into your hand.
Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”
JOSHUA 10:8
Have you ever felt that someone was thwarting God’s will for you? Perhaps someone kept you from getting a job or earning a promotion. Perhaps the government wouldn’t approve your application, or a committee disagreed with your recommendation. Do you believe mere human beings can stop God from accomplishing His purposes in your life?
The decisions and disobedience of others can’t cancel God’s will for you. Other people’s actions affect you, but no one can prevent what God wants to do in and through you. Joshua and Caleb trusted God and yet were forced to wander in a wilderness for 40 years because of the fear and disbelief of others.
God did everything He intended to do in the lives of Joshua and Caleb. His primary assignment for them hadn’t been to enter the promised land but rather to serve as godly leaders for their people. Joshua and Caleb couldn’t lead the people if they entered the promised land by themselves while the people were still wandering in the wilderness. God kept these leaders in a position where they could exert a godly influence on their nation, and as a result, they became models of spiritual leadership for generations to come. Even so, God ultimately brought Caleb and Joshua into the promised land just as He’d said. They’d been delayed but not thwarted. Be assured of this: no one can hinder God from carrying out His plans for your life. Once God sets something in motion, no one can stop it (see Isa. 46:11).
No greater confidence will ever come to you or to any other Christian than the assurance of knowing you’re doing God’s will. He won’t commission you to do anything without ensuring your success. God assured Joshua that there was no reason to fear as he prepared to battle the Canaanites. God would allow the Israelites to fight the battle, but the outcome was settled before they ever picked up their weapons. What confidence this gave them as they fought! Even though their enemies fought relentlessly, Joshua’s army was certain of eventual victory.God doesn’t promise you victory in every task you devise, but He does promise that you’ll be successful whenever you follow His will (see Deut. 28:7).
Does it appear that people are keeping you from obeying God’s will? Rest assured that God won’t allow anyone or anything to prevent His children from accomplishing His purposes. Be careful to evaluate success the way God does.
When it appears that you’re being thwarted in doing God’s will, perhaps He’s working to produce His peace in your heart as you face troubling times. Perhaps He’s working to develop a forgiving spirit in you when others mistreat you. Perhaps He’s working to eliminate a particular sin in your life. If you accept the world’s understanding of victory, you may feel defeated. But if you look to see what God’s accomplishing through your situation, you’ll find that He’s succeeding. When you face opposition but know you’re doing what God has asked, have confidence that He will accomplish everything He desires.
What have you felt has been getting in the way of God’s will in your life? How have you blamed other people or circumstances for the spiritual condition of your life?
How can you join God’s work right where you are, even if your circumstance feels like a detour or a delay in a bigger plan?
What failure have you experienced? How does that failure redirect you to God’s will?
What was the most meaningful statement or Scripture you read today?
Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response to God.
What does God want you to do in response to today’s study? [Henry T. Blackaby, Richard Blackaby (2014). Seven Realities for Experiencing God – Member Book. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]