“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
‘Your God will be with you wherever you go’ – what a comforting promise this is! God says He will be with us at all times. We can cast all our worries and burdens on Him, but still, why do we feel afraid?
It’s easy to feel discouraged and consumed with anxiety when we are in pain, either physical or emotional. All we can think about is to restore our health as soon as possible. Sometimes the urge is too strong that it amplifies the pain/problem we’re facing. Gradually, we’ll blame God for all the misfortunes that come our way and that can be destructive to our faith in God. Of course, God is omnipotent and none of us can interfere with His divine power, but our limited faith will affect our recovery. Don’t ever listen to the wrong voices telling you that God has forsaken you, because He hasn’t. Do not be fooled!
There was a man who had a dream that he was walking along the beach with God. Across the sky there were flashes of scenes from his life and at that moment he realized that God was walking with him all through his life, showed by the two sets of footprints in the sand – one set belonged to him while the other, God’s. He couldn’t help but noticing that most of the time, especially during the lowest points of his life, there was only one set of footprints. He questioned God about this: “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I found out that during the hardest times in my life, there was only one set of footprints. Why would you leave me when I needed you the most?” God replied him with a warm smile:“My precious child, I love you and I would never forsake you. During your times of trial and suffering, you see that one set of footprints… that was when I had carried you.”
Dear friend, do ease your burden by knowing God is with you at ALL times. Remind yourself repeatedly, bravely and strongly that ‘I will not be afraid because my God will neither leave me nor forsake me NO MATTER WHAT’. Trust God with all your heart, not with your feelings. You will go through a whole new experience, knowing that during these difficult times God is carrying you, one step at a time.