April 22 – Not a Time for Dismay

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  - Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

Moses is dead.  Joshua is appointed by God to step up and take over leadership.  It is an awesome job leading these thousands of people Moses had brought out of Egypt and guided for 40 years in the wilderness.  It was time to enter the Promised Land and take possession of it from its wicked inhabitants.  Many promises are given to Joshua and to the people in the first eight verses in the first chapter of Joshua.  Today’s verse is a summary promise from God to His servant Joshua, to the people, and also to us.  The job was so great God knew the possibility that fear would overwhelm Joshua and the people once they crossed the Jordan.  God reminds Joshua of his command and so we also are reminded of this promise.  God wants us to be courageous and strong and he provides the means for us to be so.  We are not to shake in our boots or throw up our hands in dismay because the LORD our God is always with us wherever we are.  Even today in the middle of a global crisis, God is with us.  We can be strong and courageous even now.

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*These devotional blogs are written several days in advance. This one was written on 4/1/2020. For that reason we take care to not specifically address the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and its multitude of concerns.  We do believe however, that many need the comfort and encouragement of God's promises these days. Where are we on the day this blog is posted?  Are we in greater panic or are we beginning to see some hope that we are on the downward slope. No matter where the world or our county is at this date, God is still on the throne and he desires to help if we will call on him and trust his promises.