God Will Stick by Your side

It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:6-8

No more assuring promise could Moses have shared with Joshua. He was putting the people into Joshua’s care and giving Joshua the reigns of leadership. Joshua had witnessed the rebellious nature of the Israelites on numerous occasions. He knew they could be stubborn, obstinate, rebellious, set in their ways, messy and, at times, dismissive of God’s commands. Moses’ words to Joshua must have been a soothing, comforting word Joshua would cherish and repeat to himself again and again.   

How many times we have repeated these words to ourselves, read them in God’s Word, heard them in a sermon, or had prayed over us during difficult times and when troubles and storms were raging in our lives? They were comforting and assuring for Joshua and should be for us as well. God is not a quitter. Others may leave us, but God does not. We might be experiencing a valley, being in the desert or enduring challenges, our lives might be messy and filled with every kind of trouble we can imagine, but God sticks closer to us than a blood relative or our very best and longest friend. He does not even hint at leaving or forsaking us.

God’s “never” is both spoken and unspoken. His steadfastness is seen, felt, implied, and heard. We might try the patience of any saint, can be terrible and complex creatures, yet, wherever we are that is where God can be found. God does not leave us and he will never forsake us no matter how bad or unbearable things become. Let’s Pray,

We thank you God for your steadfastness, your unwavering commitment to stay with us, and for going the distance with us. Amen

Reflective Questions for Soul-Tending:

Feelings cannot always be trusted. Have you ever felt you were taking this journey by yourself; that you were abandoned by all, including God? How does today’s message remind you God is with you, always?

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of soul-care?