As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day! (Joshua 14:11-12)

These were the words that Caleb spoke when he was 85 years old, after being forced to wait 45 years for his inheritance. Caleb was talking about the day that he, Joshua, and 10 other leaders gave their report of the Promised Land they were sent to inspect. The story in Numbers chapter 13 describes the sad occasion of hearing ten of the leaders offer their faithless and small-hearted report of the land that God had previously stated, "flowed with milk and honey," to describe its abundance and fruitfulness.

The ten leaders went on to describe the giant-sized men of the land. At that moment, their description turned faithless, fearful, and fateful. Not only did they characterize the giants as insurmountable obstacles to possessing what God promised them, they even disrespected the integrity of God by suggesting, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are" – as if "we" did not include God.  These leaders began to deeply discourage the hearts of the whole congregation.

Caleb and Joshua tried to intervene to stop the congregational slide into unbelief with faith-filled words, "We are well able to overcome them." But it was too late. The people had formed an inner image of defeat in their hearts, rather than an image of victory.

45 years later, Caleb is still walking by faith, not bitter, trusting God's promise, making no excuse for his advanced age, and asking for his inheritance in no uncertain terms, "Just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in....Give me this mountain!"

In the natural, it was not possible that Caleb was actually as strong as he was at 40 years old. But that didn't matter. He was not trusting in his physical strength! He had long ago locked himself into the faith and strength of God.

For those of us who are believing for the remaining promises we heard from God many years ago, let's take Caleb's example and mindset...