Some people are afraid of new challenges. Some are not.

For some, they take challenges as part of their lives. If we accept challenges as part of our lives, we can face any challenge that come our way.

As a Christian, we learned that every thing that comes are ways on how we can improve our faith to God. We may have doubts and fears the first time we believe. But it’s okay. We have not yet achieved the perfection that God wants us to become and while we are here on earth, we will face many challenges and opportunities to prove that we are indeed sons and daughters of the everlasting Father.

Every new job is a challenge.

Without God, it can be frightening. But with God, it can be a great adventure.

Joshua’s Challenge

Jos 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Joshua was chosen by God to replace Moses as the leader of Israel. It was a new task and a new job for someone like him. He was not used to handle such huge task. But God made a promise to Joshua, “I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will always be with you; I will never abandon you..”

Just as God was with Moses, Joshua and the other servants who were given new tasks, God is also with us as we face new challenges in our lives. We may not conquer nations as the early servants did, but everyday we face tough situations, difficult people, and as well as the temptations.

Indeed, God promises, however, that He will never abandon us nor fail to keep us. All we have to do is to ask God to direct us so that we can conquer all the challenges that we will face in our lives.

Jonah’s fears

Jonah run away from God after learning His new task.

Jon 1:1 One day the LORD spoke to Jonah son of Amittai.

Jon 1:2 He said, “Go to Nineveh, that great city, and speak out against it; I am aware of how wicked its people are.”

Jon 1:3 Jonah, however, set out in the opposite direction in order to get away from the LORD. He went to Joppa, where he found a ship about to go to Spain. He paid his fare and went aboard with the crew to sail to Spain, where he would be away from the LORD.

Some of us are like Jonah. Sometimes, we are afraid with new challenges. It’s natural to be afraid at first. As humans, we feel fear because new challenges are strangers to us. But our faith in the Lord God gives us courage to face anything. David’s courage pushed him to fight the giant Goliath and conquer what most of the Israel fear during that time.

Are we like Jonah who run away from our fears or are we like David who can face anything because of his faith in God?

David puts his trust in the Lord and do not fear anything because he knows that God will never abandon him.

Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

In every new task, there are challenges. In every challenge, we have the opportunity to show God how big our faith is.

Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Psa 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.