Could you imagine working hard for years only to find that you gave up right before your victory? All that hard work resulted in nothing but a waste of time. Sure, you might have “learned a lot” along the way, but you never tasted the success you were once driven to see. What would that life be like?
In the Bible, the Israelites encountered that very situation. They had been taken out of slavery, followed God through miracle after miracle, and faced their very last step of faith–entering the promised land. Numbers 14:1 says that “The people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron (their leaders).”
The Last Step Of Faith
I don’t know what it’s like to be in the Israelites exact shoes, but I do have some pretty similar shoes that I’ve walked in. While deciding what I wanted to “do with my life,” I struggled with two things: starting in faith and finishing in faith.
I remember the afternoon like it was yesterday. I sat cross-legged across the couch from Robert, my husband, and cried as I decided whether I wanted to enter a credentialing/graduate program. Why would I not want to? I was scared. What if I spent all that money on some profession that I ended up hating? I had already failed before I started. Therefore, I cried. A lot.
Robert spoke such words of wisdom into me (which is his spiritual gift). He said, “Try it. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it. But at least try.” With that kind of support I entered the program. After months and months of classes, student teaching, taking test after test, writing paper after paper, I finally finished that step.
Although that was a big accomplishment, I had one more choice to make? Do I take the last step of faith and look for a job? Or do I frame my diploma and proudly walk around with letters after my name?
Refusing To Listen To Lack Of Faith
You might think that the answer was easy but it wasn’t. There were people all over the place telling me how impossible it was to find a job. I heard story after story of people who were not able to find a job. Not just any job but the job I was looking for. As if this was supposed to help build my faith or confidence!
I refused to listen to their lack of faith. I chose to listen to the Lord. People would say “Just know that there aren’t a lot of jobs out there.” Attempting to help me not be disappointed when I failed. How sad?! And my loving but faith-filled response back to them was, “That’s okay, I don’t need lots of jobs, I just need one.”
Fight Until You Win
With that faith, I was able to cross the finish line. I didn’t go to one interview and stop there. I passed out my resume to multiple places. I walked in to meet with different “bosses” and never gave up. I kept fighting until I won.
I went to one interview where I left thinking I had the job. They loved me and I loved them. Yet, I didn’t get it. However, that “boss” passed my resume to another “boss” who called me to set up an interview. I interviewed for that job. I fell in love with the panel of people. I received a phone call that very afternoon asking me if I’d like the job! Yay, God yay! That job turned out to be the biggest blessing and one of the most joyful seasons of my life!
Don’t Give In To Contempt
The Israelites built their faith by following God from miracle to miracle. Yet, when they were given the choice to cross the finish line, they buckled in fear. “If only we had died in Egypt (their place of slavery)! Or in the desert (their place of loneliness)! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?…We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt (back to slavery).” Numbers 14:2-3
You know what the result was? God wasn’t happy. He didn’t allow them to enter the promised land. Their attitude (and lack of faith) in God kept them from their victory.
What’s Your Final Step?
You might be in the very shoes that the Israelites were in. So close to the victory that you can almost taste it. Yet, there’s a huge obstacle in your way. Or maybe you’re wavering between fear and faith.
The Lord wants you to step fully into faith. Forget the fear! The Lord has walked with you every step of the way and will not leave you. He will not forsake you (Deut. 31:6). He wants to fight for you (Deut. 3:22). The Lord wants you to cross the finish line and see your promised land–your victory!
What do you need to do today to cross that finish line? Ask God to bring you back to a place of faith and not fear. Ask Him to reveal the beauty of your victory verses the reality of your situation. Fight for your faith. Fight for your victory. Cross that finish line!
Let’s build some faith in each other today. What finish lines have you crossed? Give God glory by posting your faith filled accomplishments.
Jamye Sack 
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