Feeling Safe

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

 

There is no one alive who does not have a fear of something.  There are fears of heights, storms, darkness, loneliness, snakes, spiders and a very long list of other things.  Behind death, the most common cause of fear is a fear of failure.

When the Lord told those words to Joshua, Joshua was getting ready to take on a big responsibility.  Let’s face it:  most of us would not like to have to follow in the footsteps of a famous and beloved person.  Joshua was going to have to take over Moses’ job.  That was some pretty big shoes to have to step into. 

Joshua had been with this group of Israelites for many years and knew that they had a tendency to rebel against their leader and against God Himself.  Many times on their journey Moses had had to reassure them that God would take care of them and look after them.  The children of Israel had turned against Moses and God on several occasions.

But at this point in time, Moses had just died and the people were mourning and wondering what to do next.  Joshua was going to have to show them that he could carry on where Moses had left off.  It was a daunting task.

Because God had chosen Joshua to fill the vacancy that Moses had left behind, he knew that He would have to reassure Joshua in every way possible.   God told Joshua that he should not fear anything because He would be with him at all times.  It gave Joshua the comfort and strength that he needed to fulfill the job that God had given him.

I have spent the better part of my life in fear of something.  Storms, loneliness, failure and many other fears kept me from enjoying life for so many years.  I am so glad that God gives all of us this promise.  We need not fear anything for He is with us!

“Father God help us to remember that there is no situation that we can find ourselves in that You are not right there with us.  Help us to know this and never be afraid of anything we have to go through.  In Jesus’ name we ask this, amen. “