Joshua and Caleb must have been two really frustrated guys. They had been faithful to the Lord despite doubters around them who were not. They were the only ones out of the whole group of spies in Canaan who believed that God would help them conquer the land that He had chosen for them.
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." - Numbers 13:30.
And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephumnneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, "a land which flows with milk and honey.' Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. - Numbers 14:2-10.
Despite being eyewitnesses to the miraculous signs and wonders He performed to free them from slavery in Egypt such as the parting of the Red Sea, the provision of manna and quail for their dietary needs, and the manifestation of a water supply in the middle of a rock in Horeb, the Israelites were still afraid to trust in God to help them secure the Promised Land of Canaan. Joshua and Caleb must have been impatient, knowing that God was fully able to give the land to them. Yet, the doubters around them refused to step out in faith to claim God's gift to Israel.
You may be in a similar situation. You have seen God work powerfully in your life. You have been gloriously saved and know that through the Lord all things are possible. So, now, you are ready to take the land for His glory. Yet, others around you are skeptical and doubt you, or God, or both. So, you're in a kind of holding pattern, waiting for those around you to get on board with His plan. You just know that He is more than able to make all the things you have desired for His glory come true. You might have some great plans that you're sure have been given to you by God. It might be a business or career goal or it might be a great ministry plan or just a simple idea of serving the Lord in the community that He has placed you in. But, others around you aren't quite ready to believe that His plan will see its fruition.
Stay strong, in your faith and be patient because if it's in God's plan, then it will come to pass in His glorious timing! Joshua had to wait 40 years but he and Caleb realized their dream of entering the promised land in the end.
Don't give up! Keep on praying to the Lord for help in realizing His and your plans. Take a lesson from Jesus' parable of the persistent widow who kept asking the judge for justice.
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, "Get justice for me from my adversary.' And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, "Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'" - Luke 18:1-5.
If you're suffering from a dry prayer life (it happens to everyone) try this: Before praying, spend three solid minutes of doing nothing but focusing on God and His marvelous attributes before saying anything to Him. Think of His righteousness, grace, love, and mercy. If it helps, picture Him as the patient father patiently waiting and hoping for the return of his youngest child, in the parable of the Prodigal son.
Don't be idle! Whatever you're doing, "Commit your way to the Lord." You've been appointed a steward of the land and with that comes responsibility to take care of what you have.. You're supposed to be a good steward of your body and those things that you possess. Be responsible with your time whether it be taking care of your lawn or house or just doing your job or even trying to get a job.
Don't isolate yourself! You think you're alone? You're not. There are plenty of other Believers who need a word of encouragement. Also, think of opportunities to share your faith with others. You don't have to be a bold preacher to make a difference. Start small. Be as bold as you are able and ask the Lord to provide you with the courage to do it. Be an encourager to those around you. Instead of thinking of day to day tasks as chores that you must do, think of them as opportunities to glorify the Lord and to let your light shine so that others see Him in you. Remember, you are an ambassador of Christ.
Stay away from snares. The biggest snare I can think of is sin. If you get caught up in something bad, then, you will miss a potentially great opportunity that the Lord has waiting for you later. Don't be so distracted by bad stuff that you miss that good thing that He has when it finally comes around. Don't get caught up in prideful things that we all think we need. Remember how the Israelites got caught up in all kinds of idolatry that took their eyes and minds off of the Lord? If there was a lot of idolatry back in that day, there's even more here in the world today! And I'm not talking about bowing down to statues, either.
Finally, be comforted by Joshua and Caleb's victorious journey. After waiting, travelling, wandering and suffering for forty years, they were finally rewarded by the Lord's leading them across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. Be faithful and rejoice, because God is faithful!
A few years ago, when my wife was pregnant with our second child, my job was eliminated due to company cutbacks. Even though my wife was employed, it was not good timing for me to become unemployed as you might imagine. Thankfully, I got a job interview in late December of that year with a good company in Charlotte. After being unemployed for three months or so, as my wife and I drove to the hospital to have our baby, I received word from the job recruiter that I had the job. In God's perfect timing He had provided that blessing in the best possible way.
When Joshua and Caleb had finally reached the end of their forty years of wandering in the desert, God told them:
"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. - Joshua 1:5-7.