Do Not Die Today
I found myself in a desert place one summer. This is not a metaphor. I once spent a few summer days in Joshua Tree, California, a small town in the Mojave Desert. I’d felt inexplicably drawn to this place for years, despite none of my friends knowing about it, nor seeing it featured on travel sites I frequent. It wasn’t a destination known for comfort, yet I was still compelled to go.
WHAT IS A JOSHUA TREE?
Part of my interest was the name: Joshua Tree. Why were these desert plants called that? I discovered that some say Mormon settlers named it after the biblical Joshua, whose hands lifted in prayer. Others likened its sharp leaves to a warrior’s blade. The name alone added to the desert’s intrigue.
I am amazed that plants like the Joshua Tree thrive in the harsh Mojave Desert. They need little to grow, but require just the right amount of rain and temperature—a delicate balance for such a rare plant in the U.S. Despite the apparent barrenness, they flourish. That alone could be a powerful message.
THE SIGNS ARE THERE
While exploring Joshua Tree National Park, I saw repeated signs: “DO NOT DIE TODAY.” Such a direct warning made sense. The sign explained the dangers of desert heat, urging extra caution. The average temperature soared to 120 degrees—a serious threat.
In Joshua 1, God tells Joshua to “be strong and of good courage” 3 separate times. Why would he do that? Because fear is a real thing. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of the next thing. Fear of the unseen. God knew what Joshua would face and the kind of leadership he would have to show. The phrase “DO NOT DIE TODAY” is a way of conveying God’s call to endure and have courage each day in the face of fear or overwhelming circumstances.
And he is speaking to US with those same words. It doesn’t matter if you feel like you have been wandering aimlessly for these past few years – DO NOT DIE TODAY. You feel like this job you are at is too much and is going to be the death of you – DO NOT DIE TODAY. You may not understand why your kids seem like they are never getting better – DO NOT DIE TODAY, they need you. You have been praying for the same miracle for days, weeks, months, years, and have not seen any progress – DO NOT DIE TODAY in your praying and fasting. You used to hear God’s voice so clearly, but now you feel like he has left you because you haven’t heard from him in a while – DO NOT DIE TODAY. He’s still right there just quietly waiting for you to pause and listen.
FINAL TAKEAWAY
You were BUILT for this season. You aren’t meant to die out. Be strong and of good courage. These tests are for your testimony. These battles are for your conditioning. And these pains are for your gains. Like the Joshua Tree, which thrives in a harsh desert, you can also find strength and grow in challenging conditions because you have been CALLED to such a place in a time such as this. I know it hurts. I know it burns. I know it sucks most days (am I allowed to say that?). But be encouraged. Know that you need to LIVE in order to see what blessings the Lord has in store for you. Take your extra precautions, plan ahead, and prepare for the journey.
Joshua Tree is symbolic—a sign of faith and hope that beauty can emerge from adversity. Like the Joshua Tree, you too can embody faith and hope. Will you endure to see how your story ends?
Rooted In Love,
Pastor Thaddaeus
WHAT IS A JOSHUA TREE?
Part of my interest was the name: Joshua Tree. Why were these desert plants called that? I discovered that some say Mormon settlers named it after the biblical Joshua, whose hands lifted in prayer. Others likened its sharp leaves to a warrior’s blade. The name alone added to the desert’s intrigue.
I am amazed that plants like the Joshua Tree thrive in the harsh Mojave Desert. They need little to grow, but require just the right amount of rain and temperature—a delicate balance for such a rare plant in the U.S. Despite the apparent barrenness, they flourish. That alone could be a powerful message.
THE SIGNS ARE THERE
While exploring Joshua Tree National Park, I saw repeated signs: “DO NOT DIE TODAY.” Such a direct warning made sense. The sign explained the dangers of desert heat, urging extra caution. The average temperature soared to 120 degrees—a serious threat.
In Joshua 1, God tells Joshua to “be strong and of good courage” 3 separate times. Why would he do that? Because fear is a real thing. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of the next thing. Fear of the unseen. God knew what Joshua would face and the kind of leadership he would have to show. The phrase “DO NOT DIE TODAY” is a way of conveying God’s call to endure and have courage each day in the face of fear or overwhelming circumstances.
And he is speaking to US with those same words. It doesn’t matter if you feel like you have been wandering aimlessly for these past few years – DO NOT DIE TODAY. You feel like this job you are at is too much and is going to be the death of you – DO NOT DIE TODAY. You may not understand why your kids seem like they are never getting better – DO NOT DIE TODAY, they need you. You have been praying for the same miracle for days, weeks, months, years, and have not seen any progress – DO NOT DIE TODAY in your praying and fasting. You used to hear God’s voice so clearly, but now you feel like he has left you because you haven’t heard from him in a while – DO NOT DIE TODAY. He’s still right there just quietly waiting for you to pause and listen.
FINAL TAKEAWAY
You were BUILT for this season. You aren’t meant to die out. Be strong and of good courage. These tests are for your testimony. These battles are for your conditioning. And these pains are for your gains. Like the Joshua Tree, which thrives in a harsh desert, you can also find strength and grow in challenging conditions because you have been CALLED to such a place in a time such as this. I know it hurts. I know it burns. I know it sucks most days (am I allowed to say that?). But be encouraged. Know that you need to LIVE in order to see what blessings the Lord has in store for you. Take your extra precautions, plan ahead, and prepare for the journey.
Joshua Tree is symbolic—a sign of faith and hope that beauty can emerge from adversity. Like the Joshua Tree, you too can embody faith and hope. Will you endure to see how your story ends?
Rooted In Love,
Pastor Thaddaeus
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