We had our summer of encouragement study group meeting yesterday. I’m praying it will turn into a new band. This morning I’m thinking about Joshua and Caleb and how disappointed they must have been with the adoption of the minority report and certainly with the resulting decades in the wilderness. But the two of them survived, the only two of their generation because of their faithfulness, their “preemptive obecience,” in trusting and obeying God. A lifetime later Joshua, in admonishing the fickle-hearted Hebrews could say, “You do what seems best to you but, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
I have been in the place this song describes before… confused, knowing I heard God clearly yet in circumstances so different than I expected. Years later I have learned that in “preemptive obedience”, the decision to trust and follow, even in confusing situations God will bring forth beauty, goodness, peace, and a steadfast heart that trusts Him completely. The decision to say yes and stay faithful to it because one knows God’s character and promises is a choice to follow His will, not one’s own.