was cited earlier, the Jordan that confronted the children of Israel was not the typical, quiet stream that watered the valleys at the foot of Mount Lebanon. It was a raging torrent of melted snow and ice that rumbled relentlessly down the mountain gorges, overflowing the river’s banks and strategic crossing-points. This made crossing extremely dangerous because Jordan’s normal flow was violently disrupted. However, to cross over was a must, not only because Israel’s future destiny lay on the other side, but because God Almighty, who is the security of the nation’s future, had ordained the prompt crossing of the river.
Just like the experience of the children of Israel, a raging, formidable Jordan may be churning over before you, separating you from your life’s dream or future destiny. Jordan does not only represent a great obstacle in your path to progress or to your destiny. It also symbolizes your meeting place for a miraculous encounter with God.
Your Jordan could be anything—a lingering illness or disability; a great loss—possibly of a loved one, your job or your home; a series of mishaps; severe economic hardship; a stalled job promotion; a disgruntled, vindictive co-worker, boss, neighbor or relative; a rebellious, wayward child; a cheating spouse or some other major challenge. Whatever you may be battling with right now, this thing has disquieted your spirit, has stolen your peace and joy, and has made you run the gauntlet many times over, with feelings of anger, fear, frustration, and fatigue.
Know this, dear child of God: Your Jordan is not just another obstacle in your path, but your God-appointed opportunity to qualify you for the next level in your relationship with Him and with others. Every Jordan in your life is your opportunity for spiritual, mental and emotional development, to make you a more resilient and resourceful person. However, your trouble and confusion stem from focusing most, if not all, of your attention and energies on your Jordan. This pre-occupation tends to blind your vision of your omnipotent Father who is constantly watching your every step and misstep. He is always working for you, and never against you. The apostle Paul reminds us all of the true nature of our Jordans. He says:
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18, KJV
Every Jordan presents an opportunity for spiritual
growth and development.
Paul’s first observation may come off as shocking to those who are going through the awful grind of their Jordan situations. He summarizes these as momentary and light. “Are you kidding me, Paul?” I can hear some of you saying to yourselves. But Paul is not kidding at all. He calls your situations and mine short-lived and light when compared to what they produce in and for us, as those relate to our eternal future existence. The veteran soldier of the cross of Christ also speaks to the matter of our focus. He appears to be saying that focus is everything whenever the believer is confronted with a Jordan experience. He says that the things that we see or perceive are temporary or changeable; but the things that we do not see or perceive are eternal.
What are those things that we do not see? Those are the things that pertain to the realm of faith—not only in God, but also in the promises found in His infallible Word. It is woefully difficult to focus on the problems associated with your Jordan and on the promises of God at the same time. Moreover, your breakthroughs do not come from looking at the Jordan, but on focusing on, and listening to, the God who allowed you to come to that never-before crossing. It is very important to understand that nothing just happens to any child of God, even if you did not start it.
Every Jordan has a way through it before it begins to flow
your way. That’s heaven’s guarantee!
Be assured that your heavenly Father is in the midst of your seemingly insurmountable situation, working out EVERYTHING for your good (Romans 8:28). He says: ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ (Jeremiah 29:11). The Word of God also promises that:
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1 Corinthian 10:13
There is absolutely no situation so trying that confronts you, of which God is not fully aware. The Bible makes it quite clear that Jordan-crossing experiences are not only the common lot of all humankind, but that God faithfully watches over all. He will not allow you to be tested beyond your ability to bear your trials, even though this appears inconceivable when you are going through your situations.
How often have you emerged on the other side of an ordeal you thought you would have never been able to handle, or even able to survive? Every Jordan has a way through it before it begins to flow your way. That’s heaven’s guarantee! With every temptation or trial, God has an ordained way of escape so that you would be able to bear and go through it. You have the unfailing assurance that if God has brought you to your Jordan, He is certainly able to take you through its raging waters triumphantly.
You have a secured destiny
“. . . cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.”
Joshua 1:2
In His instructions to Joshua, God commissioned the newly-appointed leader to take His people across the Jordan to the land that He had given them. Two things are immediately clear from the above text—namely, (1) Joshua was not going to cross the Jordan alone, and (2) God had already prepared a place for him and the people. These two very important details in this remarkable experience are uniquely instructive for you as you position yourself for success against your personal Jordan.
First of all, you must know and believe that crossing your Jordan is never about you and you alone. God has predetermined that your future success is tied to the destiny of others. His blessings are never in isolation of those around you. He never blesses you for yourselves alone. Whenever you cross your Jordan, you will be a blessing to many others on both sides of the crossing experience—those that are on the side of Moab (trial) waiting to get over, and those on the side of Canaan (destiny), who have already made it over.
Second, as a potential Jordan-crosser, you must also know and believe that God has a future designed especially for you. He will most certainly bring you to it if you will only trust His wisdom and leadership instead of yours. You must have the abiding confidence that whatever is yours by divine design can never be taken away from you. No one, but yourself, can deter you from the future that God has established for you.
When you begin to believe and live by this truth, you will find your sense of peace and release from the harassment of your chaotic, wandering mind. It is only then you will begin to be aware of the divine presence, filling you with a feeling of hope and assurance. At that very moment of faith, you will be transported to a position of strength, where your mind will be more open to receive new insights and/or revelations from God. It is here that you will discover that there must be a clear path for you to negotiate your way right through your Jordan.
You may not know the way ahead, and the truth is you do not have to know the way. God, who has brought you to your Jordan, is the Way. He will take you through. When Job, the indomitable patriarch, was going through his Jordan, he left us these encouraging words:
9When
