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Starting something new can be exciting—but let’s be real, it can also be terrifying. Walking into a new job on your first day. Stepping onto a stage before a big presentation. Moving to a place you’ve never been before. Even when we know we’re supposed to go, there’s always that moment—that pause where fear creeps in and tries to tell us to turn back.

Because moving forward requires trust.

And trust? It’s hard when you can’t see the outcome.

God doesn’t always lay it all out for us—no detailed itinerary, no step-by-step breakdown of how things will go. He simply says, Take the next step. Trust Me. And here’s where it gets real—He doesn’t just ask us to march forward. He asks us to worship while we march.

Let that sink in.

Before the victory comes. Before the battle is won. Before the breakthrough happens.

Worship.

This past week, we read about Jehoshaphat’s army in 2 Chronicles 20. The people of Judah were outnumbered, overwhelmed, and afraid. But instead of preparing their swords, they prepared their praise. They sang before the battle began, worshipping God while they were still marching toward the fight. And what did God do? He fought for them.

And that got me thinking about another battle.

Gideon’s army in Judges 7 wasn’t just outnumbered—they were dramatically downsized by God Himself. Gideon started with 22,000 soldiers. Then God said, That’s too many. So it dropped to 10,000. Then again, Still too many. Until finally, Gideon was left with just 300 men to fight an enemy described as thick as locusts.

Now, I don’t know about you, but if I were Gideon, I’d have some questions. God, are You sure about this? Shouldn’t we be adding people, not sending them home?

But God had a plan. Because the power was never in the numbers.

God was equipping them with something greater—dependence on Him. He was stripping away every false sense of security so that when the battle was won, no one would say, Look what we did. They would say, Only God could have done this.

And how did they fight? With torches, trumpets, and shattered jars.

They didn’t storm the enemy with weapons—they broke their jars, and light burst forth in the darkness. The battle was won not by their strength, but by their obedience.

Here’s what I want us to think about: Are we treating joy like a goalpost? Like something we’ll finally reach once life is all wrapped up and worked out?

Once the battle is over… then I’ll rejoice.
Once God answers my prayer… then I’ll worship.
Once I see the breakthrough… then I’ll have joy.

But what if joy isn’t at the finish line?

What if joy is found in the marching?

What if joy is choosing to praise when things don’t make sense?

What if joy isn’t about perfect circumstances, but about knowing who fights for you?

Gideon’s army didn’t know how the battle would turn out, but they obeyed.

Jehoshaphat’s army didn’t see the victory yet, but they praised.

We don’t have to wait for the miracle to start rejoicing. We can worship right now. Because joy isn’t about waiting for the light—joy is knowing that God is already shining through the broken places.

So, ladies, don’t wait to praise Him. Don’t wait to have joy.

God wants us to worship while we’re marching ahead.

This Week’s Printable

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