Fear - Pt. 3

Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 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.” (Joshuu 1:6-9 ESV).

 

It’s natural to have some fear or apprehension at the beginning of a new task. We may ask ourselves questions like “What if I don’t know what to do?” or “What if I’m not good enough?” In our reading today Joshua had just been told that Moses, the leader of God’s people, was dead. And now God told Joshua that he would be the one to lead the people. What a huge task! We couldn’t blame Joshua for at least having a little fear. But God tells him to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid or discouraged. And this encouragement is more than a pep talk. This is God’s promise to Joshua that wherever he goes in the new land that God would bring them into and however hard the task before him would be God would always be right there with him.

 

I have found there are always those times in our lives when we face unexpected challenges. It may be something at work or school; it could an unforeseen health crisis. These times present the temptation to become discouraged or afraid. But God’s promise to us is the same as it was to Joshua: God will be with us wherever we go.

 

In just a few months so many young adults will be going on to other places and challenges as a result of their graduations, whether high school or college. All of these new things are exciting and create a sense of adventure. However, they also carry with them an opposite effect for parents and grandparents. We are left to wonder if they will be alright? Will they succeed? Will they make good choices? Can I remind you that God’s promise extends to those circumstances also? I remind myself of that each day as such a day rapidly approaches for me. God will be with them and He will be with me. How can I possibly lose!