2022 Lent Devotional – Day 17
God with Us Through Uncertain Times
“… 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)
There are times in our lives when we may feel fearful and distressed about the future. We may feel uncertain about whether or not we are competent of handling what is to come or whether this is the best path to follow.
After Moses, Joshua’s mentor, was dead, Joshua was now appointed to lead in Moses’ place. Joshua wasn’t quite sure how things would turn out for the Israelites from here on out. Just when Joshua was uncertain about his leadership and the overall future of Israel, God reminded him, “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 was instructed in Joshua 1:8 to immerse himself in the word of God, to meditate upon God’s promises, to trust in the truth of God’s Word, and to follow the demands that God had given Israel – knowing that God was with him, and that the Lord was his strength.
Joshua’s promise that the all-powerful God is our only strength still rings true today. In every difficulty and uncertain situation, God has promised to be with us, just as He was with Joshua when He told him, “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go”.
There are many challenges, sorrows, and tough decisions in life. Even in the midst of hardship, the Lord encourages us to be strong and courageous. We can trust that the Lord will always be with us in whatever circumstance He places us in or whatever path He calls us to follow. We can therefore have peace and move forward with strength and courage, knowing that God is with us.
We see Joshua simply had to trust and act upon the Word of the Lord. The same is true for us as well: we are to know the truth of the Word of God and meditate on its promise and follow its guidance.
Let us continue to trust the Lord; believe in His word and stand firm in the faith that was once given to us, His saints. So that we too can be strong on the Lord and in His mighty power as He is with us wherever we go – and His Grace is sufficient.
Mr. Surender Pokhal