Pinnacle Message Blog
SUNDAY ENCOUNTER — SERIES TWO
Sunday Encounter #16
When God Says, “Come Forward” — Leaving the Past and Walking Into His Promise
Scripture Anchor: Isaiah 43:18–19, Philippians 3:13–14, Joshua 1:1–9
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?” — Isaiah 43:19
There are moments in our journey with God when the greatest act of faith is not holding on—it is moving forward.
We often pray for God to open a new door, change our circumstances, restore what was lost, or lead us into something greater. Yet when the moment of transition arrives, we sometimes discover that part of our heart is still living in yesterday.
God may be saying, “Come forward.”
When One Season Ends
After the death of Moses, Joshua stood at the edge of an enormous transition.
Moses had led Israel for decades. He had confronted Pharaoh, crossed the Red Sea, received the commandments, and guided the people through the wilderness. Now Moses was gone.
Then God spoke to Joshua:
“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan.” — Joshua 1:2
Notice what God did not tell Joshua.
He did not tell him to remain at the edge of the wilderness mourning forever. He did not tell him to recreate Moses' ministry. He told him to arise and move forward.
There is a powerful lesson here.
We can honour what God did yesterday without allowing yesterday to imprison us.
Some seasons are meant to be remembered.
Others are meant to be released.
God Is Already in Your Tomorrow
When God calls you forward, He is not sending you somewhere He has never been.
Before Israel crossed the Jordan, God had already prepared the promise.
Before Joshua faced Jericho, God already knew how the walls would fall.
Before the people entered the land, God already knew every obstacle they would encounter.
The future may have been unknown to Joshua, but it was never unknown to God.
That is why the Lord repeatedly told him:
“Be strong and of a good courage.” — Joshua 1:6
Your confidence does not come from knowing everything that will happen next.
Your confidence comes from knowing Who goes with you.
Stop Measuring Tomorrow by Yesterday
Isaiah 43:18–19 declares:
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing.”
Sometimes we become so focused on what God did before that we fail to recognize what He is doing now.
Perhaps yesterday's prayer was answered differently than you expected.
Perhaps a door closed.
Perhaps something you thought would last forever came to an end.
Perhaps you are standing between what was and what will be.
Do not assume that an ending means God has abandoned the story.
Sometimes an ending is simply God's way of making room for a new beginning.
Faith Takes the Next Step
Paul understood this when he wrote:
“Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark.” — Philippians 3:13–14
Faith does not require you to understand the entire journey.
Faith asks you to trust God enough to take the next step.
You may not see the whole road.
Take the next step.
You may not understand the timing.
Take the next step.
You may still carry questions.
Take the next step.
The same God who sustained you through yesterday is already waiting for you in tomorrow.
A Word for You Today
Perhaps God has been preparing you for a new chapter.
Do not allow fear to make you remain where grace has already told you to move.
The wilderness taught you.
The struggle strengthened you.
The waiting matured you.
The disappointment gave you wisdom.
But those experiences were never meant to become your permanent address.
There comes a moment when God says:
“You have stayed here long enough. Come forward.”
And when that moment arrives, walk.
Not because you know everything ahead.
Walk because God is ahead.
Sunday Encounter Reflection
Ask yourself today:
What am I still holding onto that God may be asking me to release?
Then ask:
What step of faith is God placing before me right now?
You do not need strength for the entire journey today.
You only need enough faith to say:
“Lord, wherever You lead me, I will follow.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for every season You have carried me through. Thank You for the victories, the lessons, the tears, the waiting, and even the moments I did not understand.
Today, I surrender my past into Your hands.
Give me the courage to release what You are asking me to release, and the faith to embrace what You are placing before me.
When I cannot see the road ahead, remind me that You are already there.
When fear tells me to remain where I am, give me the courage of Joshua to arise and move forward.
Help me not to live imprisoned by yesterday's failures, disappointments, or even yesterday's successes.
Open my eyes to the new thing You are doing.
Order my steps.
Strengthen my heart.
Lead me across every Jordan and through every door You have prepared.
And wherever You call me, may my answer always be:
“Lord, I am ready. Lead me forward.”
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
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