Have you ever felt a longing inside that leaves you thinking there must be something else in life?
In the daily busyness of life that creates a predictable mundane rhythm, sometimes that longing is drowned out, but the desire never really leaves you. At night or early in the morning when life is still, you still have that child-like faith that knows there must be something more.
I’ve been there. The daily rhythm of my life was not without God. Church, Bible study, prayer, and serving others was a part of the drumbeat of my weekly life I loved dearly.
But the life with Christ I was exploring through church and Bible study was miles apart from the life I was actually experiencing. I read about abundant life in Christ, but I was not experiencing it.
Can you relate?
Not All Experience the Promised Land
While in the wilderness, Moses sent out twelve spies, including Joshua and Caleb, to explore the Promised Land and bring back a report to camp. Although all spies explored the Promised Land, not all experienced the Promised Land.
Ten of the spies brought back a bad report because they feared they would not have the ability to conquer the giants and strong cities in the land. Unfortunately, the Israelites listened and believed the bad report of the ten spies rather than to God’s promises; consequently, they reacted in fear. In fact, they actually reasoned life would be better for them back in bondage in Egypt and sought to stone Caleb and Joshua.
The greatest tragedy was that they explored the Promised Land but never experienced it because of unbelief in their hearts. (Hebrews 3:19).
Whatever voice we agree with will grow the loudest in our hearts, and this will ultimately drive our direction.
Caleb’s report did not deny the existence of the giants. Rather, he saw the giants in light of the truth of God. This gave Caleb and Joshua courage.
Willing to believe differently, they lived differently. They saw their life through the lens of their knowledge of who God is; so by trusting God, they pursued the Promised Land with passionate faith.
They saw adversity not as an obstacle but as an opportunity to push their purpose forward by trusting in God with whom all things are possible. As a result, God said that Caleb and Joshua had hearts that whole-heartedly followed him:
“ But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”(Numbers 14:24)
Brave Hearts Believe God
“A heart that whole-heartedly follows God” is our definition of a brave heart. Simply stated: brave hearts believe God, experience the Promise Land, and lead others to do the same.
A brave heart walks by faith in God and his Word, but not necessarily by what she sees.
A brave heart finds courage and direction to become the woman God created her to be.
Oh, she still feels afraid when adversity arrives, but understands the source of her courage and strength comes from looking at life through the lens of who God is. She does this by believing the voice of truth over the enemies’ lies taunting her to fear. Her heart is determined to believe God. In doing so, she invites others to do the same.
Your brave heart is needed in this world to fill it with the love of Christ.
Do you hear it, brave heart? It’s the voice of your Savior calling to you.
Take his hand and become the woman God created you to be. Life is very safe inside sanctuaries and Bible studies, but you were created to go beyond just exploring your Promised Land, as the spies did. You were meant to experience your spiritual inheritance, and the difference between the two is largely a matter of the heart.
Nourish Scripture: Numbers 13–14:25
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
