Thankful for the Journey

“It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.”
Joshua 24:17

Between moving house, working, starting up a new business endeavor, working to get the newest volume of the book series ready for print and being well disgusted by how some of my friends and family were responding to the recent American elections I find myself once again behind my own self imposed writing deadline. I was feeling both thankful and not so thankful at the same time. I was thinking about all of this stuff and this crazy journey we call life, when I realized that despite the struggles, detours, storms, successes and unseen near misses I was actually thankful for the journey. That made me think of other journeys, journeys that are much better known than mine will ever be.

Imagine the hardships those first immigrants to the “New World” must of endured. Many of them were following a dream for a life of freedom from whatever struggles they had been facing from the places they were leaving. I expect there were all sorts of people on the first ships – fine upright people, criminals perhaps, a few opportunists, soldiers, politicians, moms, dads and children. Some of them would not survive the treacherous journey, some would not survive the first year, and maybe some even decided they should go back. What a celebration that must have been when they came together that first year.

Let’s jump further back in time to another journey celebration. This week’s scripture come at the end of the book of Joshua in the Old Testament. He was made the leader of the Israelites by Moses. It would be Joshua’s job to lead the people finally into the land God had promised them. It was a journey that took more than a generation to complete. It was a journey that was filled with struggles and stiff necked people. Joshua is nearing the end of his life journey and he wants to make sure the people would be ok and that they would stay faithful to God. So he reminds them of all that had happened. Reminding the people most of all about God’s faithfulness to protect them on their entire journey.

I don’t know what you are facing right now on your crazy journey called life, but know that whatever it is you are not alone – God has placed people in your life to travel with you. No matter where you God will be faithful to you too – so let’s be thankful for the journey!

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for being with us on this crazy journey we call life. Help us to be mindful of your amazing provision and protection as we travel. Send people to journey with us to help us along the way. Help us to travel with others who may need the encouragement we have to give. May we remember always that Your Son know all about what our journey and He too is walking with us and because of that no matter what we face we can be thankful for the journey. In the name of Jesus, our traveling companion and protector we pray – Amen.