by Nick Miller

Have you ever noticed that we have a tendency to magnify our lowest moments?

Our life could be amazing in this season. Our family is healthy and well connected and it is a joy to be in our home. Our job is going well, we are meeting our performance goals and growing the company. School work is steady but we are disciplined and learning our material. In this season we are connecting with a new friend that just really “gets us.” Life can feel like a dream… and in one moment, disaster happens.

This happened to our family this past week. Everyone at home is growing closer and closer to one another, a home full of joy. The new church journey is challenging but filled with favor and blessing. Our jobs are excelling, we both love where we get to work.

Suddenly, we wake up to find our basement flooded with water up the walls! MY WEEK WAS RUINED! It was all I could focus on. The misery of a ruined basement, all the work needed to fix it, the time it is going to take. I went instantly from the top of the mountain to straight down to the bottom of the valley.

The Word of God is filled with scenarios like this. Joshua, the leader of Israel, is at an all time high! He saw the Jordan River split miraculously. The entire nation crossed on dry ground. As they reach the other side, they ran into this fortified city called Jericho. Israel marched around the fortified city for seven days, shouted at the top of their lungs, and saw God rip the walls down. After that miraculous victory against the enemy, they find themselves facing a small town called Ai. Life is good for Israel, they have seen God do the miraculous, and the enemy is not imposing:

“When they returned to Joshua, they said, ‘Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.’ So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai.” – Joshua 7:3-4

The scenario seems easy, the Israelites are confident, and Joshua is sure of their victory. However, the unfaithfulness of one man in Israel’s ranks brought about defeat for the army, and the 3,000 warriors ended up running for their life. Joshua hears and eventually sees the army running from the enemy and becomes frightened. How could this happen? Miraculous victories to vicious defeat. Joshua responds in an extravagant way:

“Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening.” – Joshua 7:6

Joshua eventually prays to God and shares his true feelings:

“Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth.” – Joshua 7:7-9

I have felt this in my life! Overwhelmed, beaten down, discouraged by events in front of me. However, in moments where I have been down, my God stands me up and reminds me of His faithfulness! Moments after the disaster we receive good news of help from the insurance company, and have amazing contractors willing to meet with us and bring about solutions.

Christ will always pick us up in our low moments, for He is always faithful! While on his face in pure fear and doubt witnessing a broken army running toward him, Joshua hears these words from God in a low moment:

“The Lord Said to Joshua, ‘Stand Up! What are you doing on your face?’” Joshua 7:10

God stands Joshua up and reveals to him how to lead this nation to victory. Joshua would go onto recover after the battle, repair the nation, and take the land of Ai. Joshua had a low moment like we all do throughout our life, but let us learn from this moment.

Though the battle in front of us looks like a disaster, our God will pick us up and help us to stand firm in every season. I don’t know what the “flooded basement” is in your life these past few weeks, but I know that God is a miracle worker and wants to move in your life!

Pray, seek Him, listen to His direction, STAND UP, and keep walking in faith knowing that He is walking with you.

photo: unsplash.com