Wading into the Jordan

Something new began stirring in June 2016. Three other women and myself started to sense recurring themes of a harvest. A couple of visions and scriptures, and then a similar vision from my husband... all pointing to a coming harvest. Hungry to understand and know God more, we began meeting together to read and pray, and added to our number throughout that year until an inadvertent tribe of 12 came together. We called ourselves The Mattress Firm.

Before going any further, I have to explain the name! A friend had started a text group for us all and called it “Holy Spirit Connected Friends”. Her husband saw that and raised an eyebrow, so she started telling him how the Holy Spirit was connecting dots in each of our lives. But unless we were looking for it, we would’ve missed it. He wasn’t really tracking, so she said “It’s like mattresses. You never know they are on sale until you need one. And then afterwards you realize that mattresses are ALWAYS on sale. That’s the Holy Spirit. He’s ALWAYS working, but until you know you need Him, you don’t know He’s ALWAYS working, just like mattresses are always on sale.” To which he replied “Oh, I get that. Y’all should be The Mattress Firm.” And the name stuck!

At the same time we began gathering, I was sensing that the Lord was making ready our next home. James and I had been praying for this answer for three years, struggling to find the right place to fit our needs. I had absolutely no idea we would be moving in to that home exactly one year later, after accepting a cash offer above asking on our other home with no contingencies and no realtor. Only God!

But I'm jumping ahead. It's easy to when He's just that good.

One of the women in The Mattress Firm shared that she was beginning to pray that God would take her out of the wilderness and across the Jordan to the Promised Land. That we all would wade into the Jordan and find Him there and allow Him to change us for His glory.

Allow me to paint a picture of the actual Jordan-crossing story based on Joshua 3:2-14. The two spies returned from Jericho and gave their report to Joshua. Their hearts were bursting with joy as they said the words of Joshua 2:24: "Yes! God has given the whole country to us. Everybody there is in a state of panic because of us."

This was the news Joshua had been waiting for. The next morning, all the Israelites broke camp and left Acacia Grove. I'm sure the buzz throughout the tribes was: "This is the day! We will stand on the brink of a dream. We will come again to the place where our forefathers blew it... only this time, we will obey!"

But as they approached the famous river that formed a barrier between them and their longed-for real estate, what they saw was both confusing and dreadful. The Jordan was clearly uncrossable. With its banks swelled, it was now a raging river spreading about a mile across, ranging in depth from 3-12 feet, all covering thick undergrowth that could easily trip someone and cast them into an overwhelming current.

This group of multiple hundreds of thousands spent the next three days right there, the passing torrent eroding all confidence. The waiting pounded reality into every Israelite. You could hear the doubts rise over night fires: "Maybe the strong among us can brave this flood, but how can we cross with infants, the sick, the aged, not to mention all our possessions?" An insistent "no" began to form in their hearts as they listened to the roar of the water.

It's easy to relate to the emotions and thoughts of Israel. So many of us face "personal Jordans" that feel so permanent and powerful that we don't even try to make it across. Our lives feel stalled, stuck on the wrong side of God's promises. We read about the abundant life, but can't make it out of the wilderness.

But God can turn a "no way" into a highway. The great question that loomed over the camp of Israel and over our lives today is, "Will we walk by sight or by faith? Do we really believe God can handle the impossible?"

I began to wonder: What's my Jordan? What am I facing that seems impossible? Am I in the middle of it already? Have I come to the edge of it yet, or am I still in the wilderness?

A friend shared some wise words in a post:

If we never had a Jordan to cross, never had the impossible before us, never faced adversity, would we get to see the fullness of God’s mighty hand? I know it was never God’s plan for us to experience pain, but doesn’t our Jordan give us a chance to see God dry up the mighty river?

Joshua 3 goes on to tell us something that is echoed throughout Scripture: What is impossible with men is possible with God (Luke 18:27). God was about to reveal the steps that must be taken in every life if we are to move from grounded to grateful, from marooned in the past to marveling at God's future. The experiences and decisions reported in this chapter were a major breakthrough for Israel. A whole new generation learned that victory depended totally upon Him.

Another element I noticed in the Israelites' trust was that after they stepped out, they stood still (v. 8). Why? They were waiting on the power of God. In all their activity, they maintained dependence. Their standing still testified to the fact that everything came from God. They were acknowledging that it wasn't their work that changed anything—it was God and God alone. They stepped out and stood still, expecting a miracle.

Reading this account, I began to understand that focusing on the Lord is essential. But I will never cross the river unless I take the step of faith. My eyes and heart can be on the right thing, but if I don't move my feet to meet the challenges, I will never progress in God's work. I must commit myself fully to what God is doing, or it won't happen.

This amazing scene continues to unfold. Standing near the banks of the thundering Jordan were the armed warriors with sword and shield. Next to them, the aged men trembling on their staffs, along with wide-eyed mothers and helpless babies. And all around were flocks and possessions gathered to move when God opened a way.

All the people had their eyes on the Ark, positioned high on the shoulders of the priests, who were wading in the shallows of the river. Everyone was ready—clean in heart and spiritually alert, watching for something that only God could do. Already, the step of faith had been taken. Now they were standing still, and a great hush fell over the people.

Then, someone noticed that the water was receding. It was dropping fast! Somewhere upriver beyond their sight, the waters mounted up in a great crystal heap. The riverbed became dry. In fact, it was bare all the way south to the Dead Sea. The thunder of the river was replaced by the thunder of God's people walking into their long-awaited Promised Land.

How I longed to see God move like this... to do what only He can do! I went back to my original question: What's my Jordan? What thing am I afraid to cross? What adversity? What impossibility? Don't let me miss You or what You're desiring from me, Father.

After spending some time sitting with the questions, I realized that I hadn't begun praying for our baby yet. For a healthy little one who loves the Lord with all their heart. For a birth experience I desire. I needed to start there. That was the step I needed to take. To utter bold prayers for a time yet to come.

A few days after this time of study, a sweet friend gave me a bracelet with the inscription "Expect Miracles". Excitement and joy raced through my heart to sense God's confirmation of the step I'd taken.

A Jordan stretches before me still, but I have waded out into the shallow waters to watch God act. The challenge of starting a family has been too much for me at times. But I will keep believing that nothing is too difficult for God. I'll focus on Christ and follow Him. And I'll be ready to move when He does His work, always being mindful that if anything is going to last, it's from the Lord. A harvest IS coming.

There is purpose for the Jordan. And once we've crossed it, we will never be the same.