The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. — Deuteronomy 31:8
On the path of life, we never quite see fully around the bend.
Even when we come to a wide open place where we can see for miles, the details blur in the distant haze. And those far-off “certainties” look differently as our perspective changes and we meet them face to face. We just can’t know (not for certain) what each new day will bring.
We need a guide, not just a fellow traveler, but someone who knows the way. Someone to walk with us and go before us, blazing the trail, clearing the path, and helping us find firm footing for each next step. This is our God. He not only knows the path and goes with us, but he has laid it out before us and lights the way ahead of us. This is our certainty and our courage:
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
This is the promise God made to Joshua—the echo of a promise made and expanded and magnified and reverberating throughout God’s Word from beginning to end. Do you hear the promise?
Walking in the garden,
Pledging a seed of hope,
Rescuing out of the deep,
Lavishing blessings like stars,
Leading with fire and cloud,
Pouring out milk and honey,
Speaking through priests and prophets,
Through banishment and restoration,
Putting on humanity and humility,
Multiplying signs and wonders,
Opening eyes and hearts and graves,
Breaking bread and body,
Defeating every mortal enemy,
Interceding in heaven,
Beating in the hearts of believers,
Giving life forever, together,
God with us always.
Surely he is with us always, even now (Matthew 28:20). Yes. He dwells in me and in all who believe. He is the guide and the path and the blessed destination. He is ever before us, ever with us, ever in us. He will not forsake us, because he was forsaken for us. No, he will never leave us. Not ever.
So, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged!”
Whatever precipice you’re standing on or whatever dark valley you’re walking through, whatever uncertainty, whatever diagnosis or decision or adventure or woe. “The Lord himself goes before you.” Yes, he himself. And he “will be with you.” He is in it. Right there with you. Right now. The One who left heaven to be with you will never abandon you. You are not alone. You don’t have to be afraid or discouraged or anxious or overwhelmed. Take courage, dear one. Yes, take courage, and I will take courage too.
Natalie
