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
Here we have Moses’ final speeches to Israel as they prepared to enter Canaan, his last words of instruction before his death and the transition of leadership to Joshua. The Israelites had endured slavery, then spent forty years wandering the desert under Moses’ leadership, making this moment of change particularly significant. Moses was barred from entering the promised land himself, yet he loved his people and wanted to encourage them for the difficult tasks ahead, while recognising that only God could enable their success.
How anxious the Israelites must have been. A major change was about to happen. When the future becomes our constant focus, we begin to worry it might not go how we are envisioning it. What follows is an all-encompassing anxiousness. Do not deny your fear; anxiety is a natural human emotion. It is an appropriate and natural response, but it need not endure. God is sovereign over our past and our present, but let’s not forget He is sovereign over our future, too. Rest in the assurance that God goes with you, but He also goes before you. Even when you don’t realise it, God is protecting you. Even when you think you can do it on your own, God is there just waiting for you to acknowledge that you can’t do it on your own. Modern medicine might help your anxiety, but God is the Divine chemist. His medicine is pure and natural, and its biggest side effect is an improved quality of life!
