Is This What You Promised?
Do you experience panic attacks and are afraid to face the day?
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.’” (Joshua 1:1-2, ESV)
“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, ESV)
Ah, the promised land. It was flowing with milk and honey but is was also full of idol worshipers and giant warriors. God had promised the land and He had l kept that promise. He delivered His children from slavery in Egypt and led them to this new place after conditioning them in the wilderness to rely on Him alone. But that did not mean they wouldn’t have their challenges and temptations once they entered the land. It wasn’t Heaven.
Sound familiar? When we accept Christ into our lives we are not whisked away to live happily ever after – not on this side of eternity. There will still be temptations and people around us who are not believers. Yes, God will bless us with milk and honey, but there will also be times of bitterness and sorrow. Like the Hebrews, we are called to live in the world but not become entrenched in worldliness.
As Christians, we must battle through our earthly lives to keep the ways of the world from snagging us into sin, thus tainting our relationship with God. Like the Hebrews, we must not fear the giants, but realize God will equip us. Bad things will happen in this broken world. What we must cling to is God’s promise in verse 9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He reiterated that – “And behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) It is not that God will make our lives easy, just easier to deal with if we turn to Him.
God in Heaven, You promise that You will be with me always. Whatever today holds, whatever is lurking on the horizon, seen or unseen, may I rest in the promise that You are there and You will be with me. Thank you for the peace that comes with knowing I do not have to do any of this alone. When the storms are loud and it feels like there is no way my little boat can stay upright, pull me in close to You and remind me that You are here. Always. Amen.
Questions: What are you battling in the Promised Land right now alone? Will you turn to God and accept His promise He is with you so He can equip you?
4 Responses to “Is This What You Promised?”
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What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
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dear betty– prsyer–father God i pray for betty’s son right now for him to relaize that you are with him always and i pray for a healing for his anger, open his eyes to see that his anger is out of control and that he will get the help he is needing and to heal from whatever that is affecting him, i pray over his mind that it will come into the way it was meant to function God i do pray for you to get hold of his heart and i do also pray in agreement with betty that his eys will open to see what he is doing to others around him i pray protection over him and his mom bless betty and surround her and give her a peace that passes all understanding that her son is good and i do pray for a miracle for this son and surround him and bring other christians along her path to encourage her i pray all of this in JESUS name amen i am praying for you and your son
Please pray for my son, that he would understand the battles that he faces are not his, alone, but that God is with him, always. I do not understand what has happened to him, whether it be years of drug abuse, or what has affected his mind, but I fear for him and I fear for those around him. His anger is so out of control and he can be very violent. I am BEGGING God to grip His heart, as it has never been before and that his eyes be opened to what he is doing to those around him.
Thank you, Julie, for this very fitting and beautiful analogy to be courageous — God Almighty is with us!
Julie! Thank you for this powerful devotion! I have always been encouraged by God’s command “Be strong and courageous” for it says to me that God knows I am/will be weak and afraid.