Deuteronomy 31:6

New King James Version

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

For Encouragement

It is fascinating to observe a little child’s absolute trust in his father in everything. The little kid believes completely that his father is the strongest person in the world. So, with Daddy around, no one could harm him. Even though no one has shown it to him, the child completely believes it to be the absolute truth and boasts about it. Touch the little kid, and you will hear the warning, “Wait until my father comes, and you will see what he will do to you.” In a game park, all a child needs to hear is the father’s urging, and he can ride every roller coaster or swing without fear. He trusts Daddy’s ability to fix everything without question. The child can sleep through the night because he finds security in Daddy’s presence. That is how absolute a child’s faith in his father is.

So, why can’t we trust our Father in heaven this way?

God is all that our earthly fathers are to us and much more than they can ever be. He is All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Ever-Present, and Unchanging. Because He is immutable, He is faithful to the core when dealing with us. He has given us every promise we need to live peacefully and securely in Christ. His word assures us He “is not a man, that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should change His mind” — and then He asks rhetorically, “Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill” (Numbers 23:19)? His promise is unwavering. Paul adds: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 1:20).

What then is your situation or condition today? Can you take Him at His word when He tells you to “Be strong and courageous,” because “[I] will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6)? Can you take courage in Isaiah 43:2 where He says: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, it will not burn you; the flames will not set you ablaze?” These promises are not just for some special Christians, but for you in your unique situation.

The issue is not that God will not and cannot keep His promises. It is a matter of the simple faith of a child of God in his Heavenly Father (John 1:12-13; Joshua 1:9). It is about yielding to Him in close fellowship and powerfully sensing His constant presence in your situation, or the lack of it. He is always there and ready to guide and comfort you. That is where your child-like faith comes in. 

Pray with Me

Lord, thank you for your ever-presence with me and your very-presence in times of need. Let this assurance lift my faith beyond every challenging situation this week in Christ my Lord, amen.

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