THE PERFECT BUSINESS PLAN - The Bronze Metal

"If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength." Proverbs 24: 10

I read recently where a study was done on the affects of winning different metals in the olympics. Surprisingly, the study discovered that bronze medalist were much happier than silver medalist. It seems that the silver medalist tended to focus mostly on the disappointment of not winning the gold, while the bronze medalist tended to focus on being grateful that they even won a medal. 

How we feel should not be as a result of our circumstances, yet, that is were we find ourselves a lot of the time. Joshua found himself in one of these circumstances after he had lost the battle at Ai. Chapter 7, verse 6 states: " Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down before the ark of the Lord." He then begins a despondent outcry before the Lord for even bringing them out of Egypt in the first place. Beaten, discouraged, and without hope, Joshua is embarrassed for himself, the nation of Israel, and for the name of the Lord. He has failed.

From the very beginning, God has told Joshua to be strong and courageous. As long as he led the nation according to God's instructions, God promised to be with him. But now, sin was discovered in the camp. Joshua naturally felt a failure, we all do when things go wrong. But notice God's response to the disobedience. Verse 10 states: " The Lord said to Joshua, Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?"  God then instructs Joshua to face the problem, deal with it, and get on with the plan. In situations like this, there is no time for self pity. We need to get up off our rear ends and get the job done.

God vented his anger on the whole nation of Israel as a result of one man's disobedience. But God never forsook his plan for Israel. And neither did He forsake Joshua. God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. We will run unto distractions, resistance, criticisms, and we will also, at times, feel like a failure. But God will never give up on the plan for our life, nor will He give up on us.  

God has The Perfect Plan. He will always shower us with whatever we need to accomplish that plan. Our job is to stay close to him, keep believing and trusting in what He tells us, and keep getting up when we are knocked down. My friend Ron has a serious and aggressive cancer. He is in remission now, but the journey has been one that would cause any man to lay in the ditch and give up. Numerous things have happened to him during this process. It is a miracle in itself that he survived these extra circumstances. With every treatment, including the extra difficulties, Ron has fought with doctors and hospitals to let him be released in time to go to church on Sundays. Tired and weak, he has gotten up each time to continue the plan God has for him. He is truly one of strength and courage who has never lost his focus. He should get the Gold.  

Are you asking God to get you out of the circumstance, or, what you should get out of the circumstance?