God is already there

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “You are not alone”

Our Bible verse for today: “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God is already there”

Going to strange places, meeting new people, facing an uncertain future – those are all examples of situations which can cause us anxiety and fear. I remember a time some years ago when I had been visiting with three different young men, in three different jails. Each of them had been raised in Christian homes, each of them had strayed from the Lord and ended up involved in things they shouldn’t have been involved in, and each of them was potentially facing an extended period of incarceration. Their futures were uncertain and scary. Life in prison can be dangerous.

I have also known other Christians who were unemployed and in desperate need of a job. Every day they found themselves walking into new offices and job sites, meeting people they didn’t know but who had the authority to hire them, and trying to make a good enough impression on those strategic people to convince them to give them the job.

There have been others whose marriages were on the brink of failing; others with financial problems who were close to bankruptcy; some with wayward children addicted to drugs or engaged in other high-risk lifestyles. In all those cases the outcome and the future were uncertain, and the situations were filled with anxiety and fear.

In the book of Deuteronomy Moses was preparing the nation of Israel to finally cross the Jordan River and take possession of the Promised Land. The people were worried. It was a land filled with giants and strong armies, fortified cities and strange geography, and new cultures with strange customs. But what did Moses tell them? “Be strong and courageous … The Lord your God goes with you … He will not leave you or forsake you.”

When the Israelites arrived in the Promised Land, they discovered that God was already there waiting for them. He had gone ahead of them and prepared the way, and He was prepared to fight the battle for them. It’s true that they would still have to do their part – they would still have to put one foot in front of the other, cover the distance, storm the ramparts, and engage in the fight. But the outcome was predetermined. God had promised victory.

Whatever difficult situations you are facing, whatever giants are staring at you from across the horizon, know that God has gone before you and He will already be there when you get there. You will never walk into any situation where God is not already there. This is a wonderful and powerful truth. God will never leave you. He will never forsake you. And wherever you go, He will already be there when you arrive. You will not be alone.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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