God will not abandon you
I will not fail you or abandon you...Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5, 7-9
Life is filled with challenges. Your response to the challenges will determine how you will come out of such experiences. You will not experience the blessing of victory unless you have faced the challenge of defeat. You won’t grow experiencing joy until you have undergone heartache. You will not appreciate compassion until someone had shown you when you needed one. When faced with challenges in life how you respond will determine if you will overcome or if you will be overrun. From the text, Joshua was given the task to lead the Israelites to enter the Promised Land after Moses passed away. He had known Moses for forty years and what an intimidation to Joshua to take his place and be victorious leading. Yet God promised Joshua that he will not live him. It was a daunting challenge but God assured Him that He will provide him courage and strength. He was not sure if he was up to the challenge, yet he has proven time and again that God will keep His promises. God gave Joshua His word that he should meditate upon so he will not deviate from the will of God. You might be facing a great challenge right now and this keeps you from churning because you do not know what to do. Like Joshua, find comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone. When God tells you that you just hang in there when going through difficult times you know you could count on His word for He is trustworthy. God made this promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) John also gave this reminder that “Greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4). The challenge is great but your God that you believe and trust is greater.
Blessings.
