Deuteronomy 31.8

"And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."

My friend gave me this verse before I left for Stockholm, and it's one I've really been holding onto. It's in Deuteronomy, in a turning point in Joshua's life, when Moses gives him his mission and sends him out as the new leader for Israel.

V3 - "The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you..."

V6 - "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid..."

As Joshua led Israel across the Jordan, Moses warned them not to be afraid. He was warning them because he knew that whatever it was they were going to encounter on their way to the land of promise, it was going to be difficult.

God calls us into and through certain situations, much like He called Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan. In such situations, to reach what we came for we often have to go through difficulty. Thankfully, God does not leave us to fend for ourselves in these situations. He goes ahead of us. He tells us not to be scared by the situations we are facing, but to continue to be confident in Him, knowing He has gone before us.

So whether, like me, you've moved to a new country, you're starting a new job, or just in a testing time in your life, know that God has gone before you, will never leave you or forsake you. Be bold and courageous, even as the going gets tough.

x