February 1st, 2026

Read Joshua 23:1a 

After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them,

A lot of ground has been covered since last week! When we last left Joshua and the Israelites, they were on the heels of repentance and recommitment to God. God had given them a great victory because of their recommitment.  But there was a lot of territory still to be claimed. Treaties were made, battles were had, and land was given as an inheritance to specific tribes! By the time we get to today’s reading, Joshua had grown old; the battles beginning fourteen years earlier for the land God had promised had slowed, and God had given them rest from their enemies on all sides. Fourteen years is a long time! I would bet that Joshua might have been tempted to think he would never see rest from their enemies. There was still work to be done for sure, but here it is! 

I stopped to focus on these words today (which really don’t even form a complete sentence) because sometimes in the midst of struggles, we need the reminder that God keeps his promises and will offer us rest in His time… in Him… even if the struggle persists.

God, 

Today, I give thanks for the struggles that bring me back to you. I fix my eyes on what you are doing in my life and in me, and not on the difficulties in front of me. Continue to grow me so that I rely on you in everything.  Help me to see the places where you give me rest:  in your Word, in being in your presence, and in the people you have placed in my life that offer me a safe place to land when life is hard. My trust is in you and your timing, but help me to walk in that trust today. Amen.