Faithful vs. Fearful

There were so many good lessons to think about in this weeks Come, Follow Me readings! The most impactful for me was regarding about the twelve men that Moses sent to "spy out the land of Canaan" (Numbers 13:17). Out of those twelve spies, two of them, Caleb and Joshua, returned to the camp of Israel with a favorable report of the land (Numbers 14:6-8). The other ten spies shared a gloomier version of what they had seen (Numbers 13:28-33). It’s not that Caleb and Joshua were ignorant of the obstacles ahead of them but they had faith that with the Lord on their side, there was no need to fear going forward into the land of Canaan (Numbers 14:9).

Just like the ten spies, the majority of the voices in this world focus on negative things and try to convince us that there is no hope going forward. On the flip side, there are relatively few voices like Joshua and Caleb that focus on the good things in the world and encourage us to move forward with faith. Maybe this is one reason why President Nelson has asked us to be careful about the information we are getting from social media or other media and to make sure we are making time for the Lord. He said that if we spend most of our time listening to the voice of the world then we will become more vulnerable to the worlds philosophies. (Make Time for the Lord)

Elder Rasband said: "Since ancient times, fear has limited the perspective of God’s children." (Be Not Troubled) Caleb and Joshua chose to see the good and knew that with the Lord’s  help they could get through the more difficult challenges that lay ahead. We have the same challenge today. As we look down the road towards our own promised land, are we able to focus on the good, keep the negative in proper perspective and have faith that as long as the Lord is with us we need not fear?

I feel like this is the same optimism our church leaders are sharing with us today. They encourage us to be hopeful and to be of good cheer. If we have that attitude, combined with some caution and awareness that Satan will try to trap us, they promise us that as we stay on the covenant path we need not fear. I hope we can do what Pres. Nelson has asked and "avoid the inevitable heartbreak that follows...(the) too many voices (that) are deceptive...(and instead) counter the lure of the world by making more time for the Lord...each and every day."