April 28

Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. — Josh 3:15-16 BSB

God doesn’t clear the way for us in advance. He doesn’t promise help before we need it or remove obstacles before we reach them. But when we come to the edge of our need, His hand is always stretched out to help.

Many people forget this and spend their lives worrying about difficulties they foresee in the future. They expect God to open the way miles ahead, but He only promises to guide us step by step as we move forward.

There’s a promise in Scripture that says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.” But we must get into the deep waters before we can claim this promise. Some people fear death and lament that they don’t have “dying grace.” But why would they need dying grace while they’re healthy and busy with life? What they need now is living grace, and when they come to face death, God will provide dying grace at that moment. When they step into the waters of death, God will be there, and the torrent will fade away.