Whenever we plan on taking a trip, there is much preparation required, such as, planning our itinerary, determining our budget, and eventually packing our bags. We may not know what awaits us on this trip, but the more prepared we are beforehand, the less anxious we will be concerning unperceived variables. The best way to prepare is to do so in a timely manner, while humbly accepting possible challenges.

For Joshua and the people of Israel, their time of preparation lasted forty years as they wandered through the wilderness. Joshua was only an assistant during those years, serving under Moses. However, the time for him to step into a leadership role had now arrived because, “after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites’” (Josh 1:1-2).

Our success in a future role of leadership is contingent upon our prior faithfulness as an assistant. Great men and women of God are determined by their steadfastness in the small things. Though we may be in lesser roles at the moment, our humility and obedience in serving will qualify us for greater things. Jesus assures us that, those who have been faithful over a few things will be put in charge of many (Mt 25:23).

God instructs Joshua to, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Josh 1:7). God knew that Joshua had served as an assistant for many years, and in order to embolden Joshua’s new leadership role, God reassures him to be strong and courageous. When the time does come for God to promote us, we cannot allow our former title of being an assistant to limit us in acomplishing all that God is now establishing for our future.

Whatever area of our life we may feel weak in, we can rest assured that God can still use us, especially when it comes to those areas. The apostle Paul discovered this truth when he was contemplating his own frailty and God spoke to him saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:8).

God finally charges Joshua to be obedient and to meditate on the Law, day and night. This was to be an imperative discipline in the campaign Joshua was undertaking. To meditate on God’s word meant reading it, speaking it to himself regularly, and even memorizing it in order to make sure he always remained in God’s will and purpose for his life and the outcome of the nation.

God’s admonition to Joshua, at a time when his leader died and his people were facing many unknown obstacles and challenges, was to get ready, to remain humble as he had been for many years, to be strong and courageous as he took on a new role, and to always remain obedient to God’s word as he meditated on it daily.

Maybe God is preparing you today in a lesser role for an upcoming season. If so, remember to stay humble and faithful in this time. But if God is calling you to step up to a new challenge, a new level of leadership, then be strong and courageous, keep God’s word always before you, and trust and obey His call.