God's Promise: Never Forsake

 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 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 31:6-8

    The promise of God to never forsake His people was the last promise that Moses gave the Israelites before Joshua succeeded him and they entered the promised land.  This promise is meant to encourage God's people.  If you hold onto this promise, then you should never feel alone.  People come and go. Leadership changes.  The world may feel uncertain or even isolating, but God is with you no matter what happens from day to day.

    The Israelites would enter the promised land and it would become their land, but first they had to remove all the people who had settled in their land.  They had to fight and do their part to have the promise that God had given them.  It was intimidating.  They had been slaves for generations, then wonderers in the desert.  They had never fought in a battle or any significant way.  They had to rely on this promise to believe that they would be victorous.

    Like many of God's promises, this one has some stipulations.  God does the heavy lifting and the hardest parts, but He expects His people to do what He commands.  Here He commands His people to be strong, courageous, not afraid, discouraged, or panic.  Not afraid is to have confidence in God to protect you without doubt.  In return God would go ahead of His people.  He promised never to abandon, be with you, and never forsake you.  

    When life feels hopeless, depressing, or forsaken then you can hold onto this promise.  It will help you be bold and courageous to face whatever in life you need to face.  The blessing comes from being steadfast and faithful when things are not certain.   The Israelites got the land that they had been promised hundreds of years before.  You get eternity in Heaven.  Trust God to protect you now without doubt.  

    You may feel unequipped, unqualified, or intimated.  That is okay.  Trust God more than your feelings to be there doing His part to make sure your calling comes has a path.  There is not room for doubt.  Doubt kills the momentum that faith builds.  You are in this world for a purpose.  Do not deny yourself that and the blessings that come with obedience by allowing doubt or fear into your heart.  He will be with you every step of the way for you to complete your calling in life.

Deuteronomy 1:29, 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-6, 10:25, 1 Chronicles 22:13, 28:20, & Hebrews 13:5