When God gives me a job to do, I fight two enemies: fear and discouragement. I’m afraid to start because I might fail. When I do attempt it, I sometimes get discouraged because the job is harder—or takes longer—than I think it should.
God’s answer to fear and discouragement is the assurance of His never-failing presence. “Be strong and courageous,” God said to Joshua. “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
When God spoke these words, Moses was dead, and Joshua had taken his place as leader of the Children of Israel. God knew that as the new leader, Joshua could experience both fear and depression. But God told him, “No matter where you go, no matter what you experience, I will be with you. I will never leave you.”
God gave a similar promise to the nation of Judah:
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned (Isaiah 43:2).
My husband often points out that God doesn’t say, “If you pass through the waters,” or “If you pass through the fire.” It’s a given that we will have these experiences. But God does say that you will not go through these experiences alone. He will be with you. They will not be disastrous, for He knows how much we can bear, and He will not let the water drown us, or the fire burn us up.
When you are fearful or discouraged, what a comfort it is to have a friend who spends time with you and has words of encouragement for you! How much more reassuring it is for you to know that not merely a human friend but the almighty God Himself, who loves you so dearly, is with you in those experiences.
That makes all the difference in the world!
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