When they came to the boundary of the Promised Land, the Lord said, “Take it.” The people, however, refused. Why? There were giants in the land.

“Why should we go in there? Our children might die,” the fathers might have said.

“I know it’s a land that flows with milk and honey,” the wives might have said, “but the wilderness isn’t such a bad place. We’re together as a family. We home-school our kids. God is in our midst. The Tabernacle is close by. The shekinah glory is seen. Manna comes down every day. This is a fine place to be.”

“But it’s not the Promised Land,” God would say. “There aren’t grapes the size of basketballs. There’s no milk and honey. There’s no destiny.”

“Yes,” the people would say, “but there’s also no risk.”

“Trust and obey,” we sing. But what we often declare is, “I like it here. Why should I take my kids out of school and make that move? Why should I jeopardize the convenience? I really kind of like the wilderness.” Yet, all the while, there’s territory to take, work to do, and blessings ahead.

I have observed that when people don’t step out and step up and move into the Promised Land - whatever that may be for them - they end up slowly dying in the wilderness. Oh, it’s imperceptible at first, but after wandering around for years, they realize they’re going in circles. At a certain point, a man says, “Stop this carousel. There’s a call upon my life. I know what the Lord wants me to do.”

I’m afraid we can be vulnerable to saying, “I’m blessed here. I like this.” But in our hearts, we know that God has said, “Step up. Step out. Go where you’re needed. There are jobs to do, battles to fight, and people to touch.”

I don’t know what that means for you personally, but I’ll tell you this: we cannot stay the same in our spiritual walk day after month after year. I am either getting more radical for Jesus - taking steps of faith, launching out in service, plunging ahead - or I’m falling back and wandering in circles. Sure, my family might be safe. But something is missing in my soul.

Go in. Possess the land God has told you to take. Yes, you’ll take some blows. Certainly there will be challenges and difficulties, but it’s only in the Promised Land where the fruit will blow your mind, where the blessings will cause your soul to expand, and where life will no longer be routine.