It can be scary when God tells you ‘go, now’s the time to move’. So when it happens, try reminding yourself that He already knows every detail of your future. Centuries ago, when a mapmaker ran out of the known world before he ran out of parchment, he would often draw a dragon at the edge of the scroll. This was intended as a sign to explorers that they were entering unknown territory at their own risk. But many of them didn’t see the dragon as a mapmaker’s warning sign; they saw it as a prophecy. They foresaw disaster beyond the known world, and their fear kept them from pushing on to discover new lands and people. But other, more adventurous travellers saw the dragon as a sign of opportunity and a doorway to new worlds that were worth exploring. Each of us has a mental map that contains the information we use for guidance as we begin each day. And like the maps of long ago, our mental maps have edges to them, and sometimes those edges seem to be marked by dragons or fears. We fear failing, or being rejected, or ridiculed, or that we won’t have enough, or that we will lose what we have. If that’s how you feel today, read these words spoken by God to His people when they stood on the threshold of the promised land without knowing what was waiting for them when they went into it. ‘The Lord, He is the One who goes before you.’ So, write down your goal, map out a strategy, and set a deadline. Then commit it to God, believing that He has gone before you to prepare the way.
