Don’t Drag Your Feet!

“Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan towards the sunrise.’”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

Some of Israel’s tribes were already settled. They’d found their land, pitched their tents, and enjoyed the peace they’d long prayed for. But God wasn’t done yet. Others still had territory to claim, battles to fight, and giants to face. And in Joshua 1:13–15, God gives a simple but stretching command: “You who are settled, go help your brothers until they too enter their rest.”

They could’ve said, “We’ve got ours—good luck with yours.” But God was teaching His people something bigger than comfort: Kingdom life isn’t about me, it’s about us.

Some people reach contentment early. They find peace before others do. They settle into a good rhythm, a happy place, a blessed season. There’s nothing wrong with that—contentment is a gift! But contentment isn’t permission to disconnect. When you’re blessed, you don’t retire from helping—you’re resourced to help even more.

God says to the settled, “Help your brothers.” In other words, fight for things you don’t personally need, because someone else does. Christianity at its core is about the other.

Maybe someone close to you wants to grow but you’re comfortable where you are. Your spouse is eager to dig deeper into the Bible, attend a class, join a prayer group—and you’d rather put your feet up. Don’t mock, minimize, or murmur. Cheer them on. Support their hunger. God may be stirring something bigger than your current appetite—don’t drag your feet!

Perhaps your church is pressing into prayer, fasting, deeper worship, or new initiatives. It’s stretching, unfamiliar, maybe inconvenient. But remember: the Promised Land always lies beyond comfort zones. When leaders shift priorities, services change, or worship evolves, don’t fold your arms and sigh, “Do we really need all this?”

Instead, say, “If God is leading us further, I’m with you.”

Pioneers often walk lonely roads. Visionaries see hills others can’t yet imagine. Dreamers are sometimes misunderstood by settlers. Your encouragement might be the bridge between their faith and their fulfilment.

If you settle too early, you may live blessed—but never see the full landscape of what God promised your family, your church, your calling. When God surrounds you with pioneers, don’t calm them down—lift them up!

God’s work moves forward when the contented refuse to coast, when the comfortable choose to contribute, when the settled become supporters.

So ask yourself today: Am I dragging my feet, or lifting someone’s hands? Complaining about the journey, or cheering on the pioneers? Settling early, or helping my brothers win their battles?

You don’t have to carry the vision—but you can carry the corner of the stretcher.

Don’t be a foot-dragger.
Be a faith-builder.
Be a pioneer encourager.

I declare that I am called to encourage, strengthen, and build up others. I choose words that give life, hope, and courage, just as Scripture says: “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

I choose to notice the weary, affirm the overlooked, and call out the God-given potential in others. Like Barnabas—the son of encouragement—I will lift others toward faith, courage, and obedience (Acts 4:36). I will speak what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, so that my words may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

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