“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (CSB)
A friend reached out and asked if we could talk. We hadn’t really kept in touch over the last several years after some significant relational conflicts. Surprised, I agreed to the phone call, but it didn’t take long for me to discover the road was even rockier than I thought.
The previous conflict occurred over seven years ago, and at that time, we talked through it. I thought we were OK. Apparently, we weren’t. She brought up the previous offense again, with an added accusation.
Because it was such a serious allegation, we got our spouses involved and scheduled a meeting with a mediator. It was a long few weeks leading up to that meeting. My heart and mind were consumed by this situation.
I spent a lot of time praying and listening to worship music. God’s Word also brought me a lot of comfort, especially Deuteronomy 31:6:
“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
Those words were originally spoken by Moses to the people of Israel. Moses' time as their leader was coming to an end, and Joshua would soon take his place and lead them into the promised land. But first, Israel would have to battle many enemies.
Notice that Moses started with “be strong and courageous.” If you have to tell someone that, it’s because they’re going to encounter scary situations! And in the past, the Israelites had already experienced their fair share of difficulties. But for each challenge they faced, God provided for them every time:
When they escaped from Egyptian slavery, God parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14).
When they were thirsty in the wilderness, God provided water from a rock (Exodus 17:6).
When they were hungry, God gave them manna and quail (Exodus 16:4-13).
When they battled enemies, God gave them victory (Deuteronomy 2-3).
The same God who took care of them in the past would be with them in their future.
As the meeting with my friend drew closer, I remembered times when God had been my Defender. I recalled when the Holy Spirit had given me words to say in other difficult conversations. I thought about how I had experienced His comfort and peace despite the chaos around me.
The same God who took care of me in the past would go with me into that meeting.
And He did. Even though the conversation didn’t result in reconciliation, God was with me.
What uncertain or fearful situation are you facing? Remember the Lord's faithfulness in the past. That same God is with you today.
Dear Father, no matter what I face, I know You are with me! Please help me to walk in strength and courage. May Your comfort surround me every step of the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Today’s devotion is an excerpt from 30 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know: A Devotional Study!
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Deuteronomy 2:7, “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The LORD your God has been with you these past forty years, and you have lacked nothing” (CSB).
What does Deuteronomy 31:6 teach you about God or reveal about you personally?
How does this verse inspire or convict you to make a change in how you think, what you do, or what you believe? Share with us in the comments!
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