Does my life have an eternal purpose? How am I being used as a tool for God’s Kingdom work? Have you ever asked yourself these questions? You’re not alone.

I’ve been studying the book of Joshua lately. I never thought I could learn so much from an Old Testament book full of cities and king’s names that are hard to pronounce. But I’ve realized that the book of Joshua is jam packed with lessons and stories of God’s faithfulness. Two themes that constantly show up throughout the book are the people’s obedience toward God and God’s faithfulness toward them.

Over and over again we see these two themes play out. God gives a command of instruction, and then the Israelites act in obedience to His commands. God faithfully carries out His promises, and then victory reigns!

You see, the Lord already holds the victory over the battles the Israelites face, but He still requires of His people to move in obedience. To take action. To fight. As a result of their obedience, the Israelites actually get to be used as a tool for God’s work to be accomplished.

“You see, the Lord already holds the victory over the battles the Israelites face, but He still requires of His people to move in obedience.”

As I’m reading Joshua, I can’t help but meditate on God’s faithfulness in my own life. God has been faithful to me time and time again through difficult seasons of my life, just as He was with the Israelites.

One difficult trial I experienced at a young age was the death of family members. Both at that time and at different times since, I have questioned God’s goodness to me and His sovereignty over my life.

Where is He in times like these? Times of immense grief and pain—when we feel hopeless. When we are angry. When we are bitter toward God and people around us. When we are confused. When we doubt His goodness and His power in our lives. How is God possibly using me to accomplish His work during moments like these? How is He weaving my life together for my good and for His glory? It’s so easy to forget (just like the Israelites) all that He has already done and all that He promises He will do. It’s so easy to forget that He has already won the victory!

Each time I have doubted and questioned what God is doing, without me even realizing it, He has shown up. Every. Single. Time. I have seen Him work in miraculous ways. He has brought me back to Him when I have rebelled, and He has paved the way for me when I have felt the hint of fear. Therefore, I know I can rest in Him because I have seen Him work. Over and over again, I have seen His faithfulness in my life.

“Each time I have doubted and questioned what God is doing, without me even realizing it, He has shown up. Every. Single. Time.”

So, just like the Israelites, each time a new battle comes our way, we can look back and recount all the times that God has been faithful to us and provided. In remembering what He has done in the past, we can trust Him for what He is going to do in the future. We don’t have to be afraid because we know that He has already won the final battle! And the exciting part is that we get to take part in it. Get that? We actually get to take part in what The King is doing in the world! We get to live our lives in a way that does have a purpose because we know who we are working for. What we are doing will matter in the end. He has already promised us that He will have the Victory! That all of creation will shout His name! That He will reign forever. He’s not wishing we would do more or wishing we would do better or live our lives with more purpose. No. He is using us exactly where we are. He is challenging us, teaching us, and pushing us to move in faith—to take risky and scary steps of obedience.