The story of Caleb in the Bible impresses me.  The Israelites paid a high price for murmuring and complaining.  They wandered around for forty years and died in the wilderness.  Caleb had a different spirit.  “But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit “  (Numbers 14:24 NIV)

            Caleb stood strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.  (Ephesians 6:10)

Caleb knew that with God, all things are possible.”  (Matthew 19:26)

            Caleb’s descendants, because of his obedience, not only were blessed but also eventually inherited the land.

            I yearn to be like Caleb.  He did not see with his natural eyes, but he saw difficult circumstances through the eyes of faith.  I need to learn that happiness in God is a state of rest and trust.  Like everyone else, I have battles to overcome, fears to deal with and sins to repent of.  I must repent, accept God’s forgiveness and cast my burdens on him.  Only then can I enjoy life.  Otherwise, I will spend a lifetime of struggling.  I tend to impatiently want things my way and I want them right now.  I must trust God.  He knows what is best for me.  I must let “patience have its perfect work,” so that I may develop “spiritual muscles.”  I have learned that God is not in a hurry.

            “For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently”  (Romans 8:25 NIV).

            In the face of trials, Joel 3:10 …”let the weak say, ‘I am strong!” comforts me.

            Philippians 4:13 gives me courage, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

            Proverbs 3:5-6 admonishes me to stay on the path in everyday living.

            Caleb encourages me to go with full speed ahead in life with trust and faith.  His example inspires me to have hope because faith always has a future and a hope while fear is the abyss at the end of a cliff.

            We can be “Calebs” in this life or we can be those murmuring, whining, complaining poor souls who spent the best time of their lives in the desert.  God gives us the gift of life.  It is up to us how we live it.  As for me, I find life exciting and “delicious.”

            I like Caleb’s attitude, “So here I am today, eighty-five years old!  I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle as I was then”  (Joshua 14:10-11 NIV).

            We have a dear friend who is 81.  He doesn’t know the meaning of  “retire.”  He works every day with vigor and enthusiasm.  His positive attitude and his love for the Lord gives him strength for hard work.  He patiently helps others and always has an encouraging word.  He’s a Caleb!

            So what do I see in Caleb’s examples?

            Look on the bright side.  Find the good.  Have a happy outlook.  Believe the best is yet to be.  Live one day at a time and make a masterpiece out of it.  Have an ever increasing faith and live by it.  Lose yourself in helping others.  Be confident of your destiny.  Know where you’re going at life’s end.  Take time to enjoy loved ones.  Pray without ceasing.  Wake up!  You’re alive!  Be grateful for the time you’ve had to live.

With Jesus on your side, nothing is impossible to you. You can be bitter or better.  Be better.

            Through Jesus you and I are overcomers.

            If Caleb can, you and I can.

            Take courage and overcome, you’re a winner!