. . .Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous. . .Joshua 1:5-6
Discouragement. Exhaustion. Pain. Frustration. Misunderstandings.
These are all forms of loss. Loss of a dream. Loss of a relationship. Loss of a desire.
When God told Joshua ” Moses my servant is dead,” it was not merely a statement of the obvious. God was reassuring Joshua that he understood–
understood grief at the loss of his mentor, his leader, his friend
understood fear and insecurity at the thought of taking on the task before him
God understood. And he encouraged Joshua with the truth that Joshua would do nothing alone. He would not have Moses beside him–God would be there. Every moment. Every task. Every enemy faced. Every obstacle.
God is the same, yesterday, today and forever (from Hebrews 1).
Out of my distress I called on The Lord; The Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in The Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in The Lord than to trust in princes. Psalm 118:5-9
God is with me. He has set me free from
the need to have people approve of me, for in Christ God has completely accepted me
the need to be understood by others, for God knows my every thought, deed and motive
the fear that the assignments too big for me, for my God is with me, and nothing is too big for Him
Yes, losses still hurt. I am still exhausted. The headaches and all their effects (nausea, partial blindness for hours, sensitivity to light and sound,roaring in my ears, stabbing pain) still remain.
But God is with me. He is my helper. He is my refuge. He is.
And so I go in the strength that He supplies
Plea for Grace 