Never Alone
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
When I look at the life of Joshua, I don’t think of a scared man. I can’t help but remember how only he and Caleb stood up to the entire nation of Israel and believed that God would give them Canaan. I picture the strength of his physical person as he led the army to war and fought while Moses sat upon the hill with raised arms. This was a man who spent his life as Moses’ servant and lived in the presence of God. Still, God felt the need to remind him to be courageous. The implication is that he was less than fearless in that moment. Perhaps he was even scared or doubted that God would stay by his side. If strong men like Joshua allow fear to creep in and need to be reminded of God’s power and presence, how much more so do we?
If you are feeling weak, let this scripture remind you, let this devotion encourage you, you are not alone. You do not need to conquer life independently. The burden you struggle under was never meant for your shoulders to carry without help. God is with us… wherever we go.
Isaiah 40:28-31 tells us, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Times when life presses heavy upon us are inevitable. We will grow weary. We will struggle with fear. We will feel very weak at some point in our lives. God knows this. He provides for our shortcomings through His strength and His power so that we can truly believe God’s words in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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