Numbers 13: What's the story I am telling myself?

"But the men who had gone into Canaan with Caleb said, ‘These people are stronger than we are. So we cannot go and fight against them.’”—Numbers 13:31 (EASY)

This story feels a little familiar to me—like when David stood before Goliath while the entire Israelite army trembled in fear. David had the faith to step up. But here? Joshua and Caleb’s faith wasn’t enough to shift the fear that had gripped the rest of the spies.

They had all seen the same land. They had witnessed the same abundance. Yet while Caleb and Joshua saw the promise, the others saw the problem. The giants were too big. The land was too hard. The fight was too much. And so they backed down—forgetting that God had already promised victory.

Ever notice how two people can see the same thing but walk away with totally different perspectives?

Joshua and Caleb saw the Promised Land and thought, Let’s go—we’ve got this!  The other spies? No way. Too many giants. Too hard. We’re doomed.

Same land. Same opportunity. Completely different outlooks.

It makes me think—who am I surrounding myself with? Faith spreads, but so does fear. And sometimes, all it takes is one or two voices to change everything.

I’ve heard that fear and excitement feel the same in our bodies. The difference? The story we tell ourselves.