The journey of life comes with numerous challenges, especially these days when according to the bible iniquity abounds. Many times as Christians and in fact humans, we are often overburdened, threatened, scared, worried, unsure, and sometimes, frustrated, or even depressed. While all these are reactions to the challenges we have to face, it is important that we remember that the battle is won first in the mind. A coward and depressed mind is a prerequisite for failure. Like the scripture cited above, the men of Israel sent to explore the land of Canaan upon their return presented the report of their exploit to the elders and people of Israel. It is important to emphasize that faith is not a denial of reality, but an inward conviction that no matter the intensity of the darkness, the light would shine by dawn. Faith is the ability to stand firm even in the face of obvious threats. Faith is dwelling on the positive. Like Caleb in verse 30, to succeed, we must learn to magnify the positive, we must understand that we are able, not because of our strength, but as Christians, we have a great GOD, a GOD that listens and one who is faithful to his words. The Bible declared "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Understanding the principles of casting all our burdens to Christ, who cares for us is a requirement for a peaceful life.
We as humans on our part must as a duty fulfill our responsibilities. God cannot do for a man what he is capable of doing for himself. He commanded us the conquer the earth, and to subdue it. God gave us the power to move mountains. However, to move a stone one has to act, no one moves a stone sleeping, in self-pity, or drunk with the wine of depression. We must take action. Faith without work is dead, and hence, we must work and pray.
Like David, confronted by a warrior, and giant "Goliath", we must learn to listen to what GOD says about us and not what our eye sees. We must provoke the supernatural by our acts of faith and belief. We must see ourselves as children of GOD, powerful and equipped to overcome. We must not like the ten men of Israel who likened themselves to grasshoppers, look down on ourselves. Dwelling on the negative is a sure way to fail. That is what losers do. They complain about everything, they blame every other person, they are always right, and they never see their faults. As children of GOD, we have two duties in the face of challenges, which are to act and to pray.
As you keep believing God's word, I decree that he GOD will be your light, and would lead you you to triumph. I decree according to his words that the waters of trials and temptation will not swallow you, neither will the fires of life burn you.
You shall emerge triumphantly and for your sake, nations shall come to worship and acknowledge him as GOD.
Peace be with they that believe.
("27. This was the report they gave: 'We made our way into the country where you sent us. It does indeed flow with milk and honey; here is what it produces. 28. At the same time, its inhabitants are a powerful people; the towns are fortified and very big; yes, and we saw the Anakim there. 29. The Amalekites occupy the Negeb area, the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites the highlands, and the Canaanites the sea coast and the banks of the Jordan.' 30. Caleb called the people round Moses to silence and then said, 'We must march in immediately and take it; we are certainly able to conquer it.' 31. But the men who had been with him said, 'We cannot attack these people; they are stronger than we are.' 32. And they began disparaging to the Israelites the country they had reconnoitred, saying, 'The country we have been to reconnoitre is a country that devours its inhabitants. All the people we saw there were of enormous size. 33. We saw giants there too (the Anakim, descended from the Giants). We felt like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.")Source