‘So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”’ Deuteronomy 31:6(NLT)
‘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 1:9(NLT)
‘God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude Come, see the glorious works of the Lord : See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude’ Psalms 46:1-11(NLT)
‘Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”’ Matthew 28:16-20(NLT)
‘Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 8:35-39(NLT)
‘I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.’ Ephesians 3:16-19(NLT)
Trusting in the God who will not leave you or forsake you
The fear that we are alone in the world is enough to bring us to our knees. While at some points in life that fear might feel more philosophical, there are other times when it feels distinctly human. Your mother has passed. Your children are grown. Your best friend is in another state. The seat beside you on the couch is empty. Being alone is scary, and being lonely can be even scarier.
It raises the question…Is there One who will never leave us?
“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.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
God will never leave you nor forsake you. You are not alone. You have never been alone. But it is not just one verse in Deuteronomy on which we stake our hope; this promise is woven throughout the whole Bible!
“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:20)
“…neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
And this barely even scratches the surface. God has always wanted to be with His people. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. When they had to leave the Garden, God made a promise that it would not always be so. He would make a way – a way to be with His people. And when the time was right, Jesus, born of Mary, became Immanuel, “God with us.”
But how is Jesus with us today? Through His Spirit! It is a beautiful mystery. By His Spirit, Christ dwells in our hearts through faith. (Be sure to read Ephesians 3:16-19!)
Today as you read the Scriptures that follow, if you are physically alone or emotionally lonely, look for the promises. God is with you. If you need comfort, if you need peace, if you need a listening ear, He is there.
from Fear Not