“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them.” (Joshua 1:2, 3-18-11)

God starts out his message to Joshua with a sobering statement. Moses, the man you’ve followed your entire adult life, is dead. Welcome to your new reality. God challenges him to face this new reality, admit it, acknowledge it. Get used to it. Get out of dreamland and denial. You’re not in Egypt anymore and your job description just got a lot harder.

And now that you’re acknowledging truth, you’re ready to get on with the mission. Don’t let the reality discourage you. You still serve an amazing God who has an amazing plan. So get on with it. Take the discouraging reality into account but don’t let it stop you or even slow you down.

[Father, help me to be honest about situations but also “realistic” about Your power so I can keep moving forward.]