EVER PRESENT
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Our lives are ordered by the priorities we choose—or those that are forced upon us when we are not allowed to choose. When we do have the capacity to choose, the best choices are those that matter the most. Such was the choice set out for the Israelites on the verge of entering their promised land. Would they be afraid of the people God had already told them would be defeated? Or would they choose courage, trusting their God, who promised to be with them forever? When we understand these vastly different timelines—the present vs. forever—it would seem absurd to give greater priority to temporary fears rather than to God’s strong and enduring presence. But the human reality is that it is always easier for us to grasp and instinctively respond to what we can see and experience with our human sensibilities than to the often less tangible presence and promises of God. In the moment, a frightening headline, an alarming diagnosis, a tragic disappointment, or sorrow can feel more real to us than everything we claim to know about God. At such times, the call to “be strong and courageous” is a call to faith. It is not about what we can see or feel. This call to faith does not diminish the importance or reality of the fear or heartbreak with which we are confronted; it takes them as seriously as they truly are. But somehow, this call to faithful courage is always the larger priority, the choice that matters most. When God goes with us, we can confront the enemies, extremities, and uncertainties of our lives without fear. And we can meet our fears without being overwhelmed.
We have different priorities that shape our choices and how we respond to the world around us.
