Count it All Joy Joshua 3 Part 2

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Joshua 3:7-13
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God has a purpose for everything that you are facing right now. I can picture Joshua standing on the side of the Jordan asking why in the world God would choose flood season to try and cross the river. Would it not make more sense to cross it when the waters were low and people could simply walk across? From a human perspective the answer is absolutely! God does not see things the same way we do though, His way of thinking is as far above ours as the heavens are above the earth, in other words, from the vantage point of eternity, He can see the whole picture from beginning to end (Isaiah 55:9).
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Joshua has the privilege of getting the inside scoop on what God is planning to do in Joshua 3:7. At least part of the reason that God has chosen this time of year to lead Israel across is so that the people will begin to trust Joshua the same way they had trusted Moses. Moses had led them across the Red Sea now Joshua will lead them in a similar way, across the swollen Jordan river. Joshua 3:10
tells us that this particular difficulty was also to show the Israelites that they can trust God to drive out their enemies from before them. If God can stop up a flooding river on command and allow them to cross then it makes sense that He will be able to give them the victory over the people living in the land.
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The people along with Joshua will also learn more about God through this ordeal. A title is given to God and repeated in Joshua 3:11 and Joshua 3:13; “the Lord of all the earth.” God is also going to use this challenge to the people’s mission as a way to show them part of His true identity. He is God everywhere not just the easy places but the places where cannot see how to accomplish what we are trying to do for Him. It is this Lord of all the earth that they will follow across this river into the promised land, and here they are getting a front row seat to witness Him in action. God had many purposes for leading the people to a river that is normally easy to cross during the time of year that is was impossible to cross. There was much He wanted to teach them through this moment in their lives. The same is true for you, He has many purposes for the challenges you face on this cold Tuesday morning. Sure He could make things easy on you, but you would miss out on so much joy and many blessings by not learning to trust Him as you ought. 
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So rather than being upset by things not working out the way we want them to, we should actually give God a big thank you! Those times when things go sideways on us are chances for the Lord to show the people around us that He is working through us as we continue to follow and trust Him despite the difficulties we face. The problems that pop up on a daily basis are little strength building exercises that help prepare us for the big challenges we will face on down the road. When we come up against those issues that are so big and scary we so no way around them, those are the times in life when we will look back and realize that God was teaching us something new and special about His true nature and character.
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James put it like this, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4, ESV). Those daily troubles are just part of God's purpose in your life to make you stronger and teach you more of Himself. You may find yourself standing in front of a flood river wondering if God is a terrible planner. Remember He knows what He is doing and if you showed up at the river during flood season count yourself blessed because the just means God has a very clear, special purpose in mind for you in the days ahead. Don't lose heart trust Him and watch what He can do when your faith is in Him and not yourself.

Who knows what you may learn about yourself or about the Lord Jesus as you go through those trying times? He may have you in the middle of that flood season to show you more of His power like He did for the disciples in Mark 4:41 after the disciples had been through a horrible storm where they thought they were going to drown and Jesus had rescued them, they asked the question, “who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” If they had never gone through the storm they may not have ever understood the full extent of Jesus' power! 
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We will face challenges today, do not think of them as problems though, think of them as opportunities for growth! Ways that God wants to grown your faith and help you trust in Him more as He shows you more about His true nature and abilities. Stand strong and follow along as He leads you right through the middle of your troubles.

Do not question God's planning, simply trust His eternally good and gracious purposes for your life.