A new month has dawned. A new chapter have been chosen to read and a new land laid before the nation to enter.

God’s servant Moses had died in Moab at the age of 120 years. A leader had died and a leader needed to be chosen. And God’s choice was Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide.

Just imagine the mental state of Joshua who was chosen to take over the job of late Moses. Joshua had witnessed how hard Moses tried to lead the Israelites, the rebellious, and grumbling people for the last forty years through the deserts. How many times Moses had fallen prostrate before God on behalf of the stiff necked people and pleaded for them. And now the mantle had fallen on Him. Self-doubt clouded his vision and froze his body to make him numb. Just at that moment, he heard the voice of God to waken him up.

” As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous.” Joshua 1:5b- 6.

Yes, this second morning of March 2025, as I opened the first chapter of Joshua during my time of devotion, I couldn’t imagine how fearful the apprentice Joshua would have been to take over the huge responsibility of leading the Israelites across Jordan river to enter the promised land. He very well knew that he was not at all like his leader Moses. He lacked Moses’ courage, patience and humility to be a leader like him. It is at this time, he heard God’s encouraging words to give him strength and focus. He did realize that God did choose him for who he was-Joshua and not a duplicate of Moses. Joshua knew that God knew his strength and weakness. Understanding his fear and anxiety, God had offered His words of assurances to be with him always. So, why should he give into any fear or self-doubt?

That was Joshua’s situation when he was chosen to lead the Israelites across Jordan river.

What about us? How many of us haven’t struggled with self-doubt from time to time. Self-doubt-the inner critic that gets perched on our head and peck at every opportunity for us to take up a new challenge or a step towards advancement. “You’re not smart enough!, you are not educated enough! you are not tall enough! you are not capable enough ! and so on and on the critic jabs at our confidence to lose even the little confidence we muster to take a new job, a promotion or a challenge. Sadly, many get roped and tangled in such situation that they hesitate to wriggle out of it’s grip with any positive thinking and determination.

As Christians, we rely on God’s words of assurance for strength and guidance. Even though, we may not hear the audible voice of God as Joshua did, many believers remind themselves of Philippian 4:13 which states,” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Although Apostle Paul stated those words to convey that, under any situations, in need or in plenty, praised or persecuted, accepted or rejected, he had learned the secrets of living in contentment because he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him.

We may have taken out of context today to draw strength from this scripture, it does help us to overcome fear and self-doubt whenever we face a challenging situation.

I can recall a situation when i wriggled out of the grip of self-doubt two decades ago. The writers’ organization i belonged at that time was calling for applications for a devotionl columnist post for the newsletter they published. The earlier devotional columnist who had been a veteran writer in the field for many years had stepped down for health reasons and the post had fallen vacant.

I was just a newbie to writing and had just become the member of that writer’s association. A thought from somewhere hit me without consultation. Me! Applying for the job? No way! Who was I to compete with the other writer’s in the group. What do I know about devotional writing? I haven’t taken any course on that and to apply for the post seemed laughable in my view. Hardly anyone in the organization knew me to consider worthy to write for the new letter. So went my tug-a -war between my inner critic and myself. But for some reason, I couldn’t get the thought of applying out of my mind. It kept gnawing at me to the point that I had no choice but to apply.

With no hope of hearing from the organization, I submitted a few of the pieces I had written on my Devotional journal to them and forgot about it. Weeks later when I saw the email from the editor of the newsletter in my inbox, nervously I opened it. I was expecting to see something like we’re sorry to say we cannot accept your submission. A rejection note. Instead, I saw a congratulating note.

Yes, they wrote to say that they’ve accepted my submissions and had decided to choose me as the new devotional columnist for the newsletter. joy and gratitude possessed I danced around the house tears running down my face.

If only I had listened to my inner critic, I would have missed the opportunity to get the post. I did serve as a devotional columnist for five years in the best way I could. This opportunity energized me to take up more challenges in writing and even dare to write a book.

Yes, fear and doubt will come whenever you venture to do a new thing. But do not give into self-doubt and give away golden opportunities God bring you

Feature image credit: Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels