Stepping into the Water

by Pastor Debra Bronkema, October 25, 2026| connect.faith, Everyday Spirituality: The Blog

October 25, 2026

Stepping into the Water

Joshua 3:13-16a

(The Lord said to Joshua) “...When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, come to rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap."

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people.

Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So, when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap.

Stepping into the Water

This is a story that invites us inside to look around. There is Joshua, early in his time as a leader, coming after Moses has passed away, poised to go where Moses had been leading the people for all these years. There is the Ark of the Covenant – the symbol of God’s presence being carried with the people. There is the Jordan River – a smaller body of water than the Sea the people had to cross to leave Egypt behind – but still too dangerous to walk across as it was flowing that day. And finally – there are the people. The priests, and the followers – prepared to listen to what Joshua told them God wanted them to do.

Whenever I revisit this story, I think about what it must have been like to be the Priests in the front, carrying the big heavy Ark, hearing that they had to step into the water in faith before the water would stop flowing at its dangerous pace. It makes me think about how often we need to choose to trust God in the walks we take in faith here and now. And it makes me think about where God might be calling us to step out into the water.

Where is the pathway we are called to take in these difficult days? The water is rising in many places and spaces of our lives. Do we sense a place where we are called to show up, to step in, to walk a path that makes space for God to do God’s work through us?

Reflection Questions:

1) Spend some time praying and listening about what you see on the pathways of your life.

2) Do you see a place where God might be calling you to step into the water?

3) Do you see people stepping into the water that you feel called to join?

Prayer:

Dear God, I am thankful for this story, and how it points me toward places to join in what you are doing in the world around me. In Jesus Name, Amen