Deuteronomy 31:7, 8  Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (NIV)

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One of the poignant scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies happens as Gandalf and Pippin await the beginning of battle. Pippin confesses, “I don’t want to be in a battle. But waiting on the edge of one I can’t escape is even worse.” 

Tolkien served in the British army in World War I. He knew well the full range of emotions preceding armed conflict. He saw and pondered the tragic death that war causes. He overheard conversations like Gandalf and Pippin’s. 

Sitting on the edge of a dangerous crossing, God spoke words of clarity and commission Joshua needed to hear. God told him to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you,’ (verse 6). 

God repeated this command in verse 7. Courage can be commanded, apparently. Why could Joshua have courage when they had never been this way before? How could they succeed on their mission when everyone on the other side of the river wanted to prevent what God was sending them to do?

Verse 8 tells us where courage and confidence come from:

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

We are never alone. God never abandons us. 

My adventures today include a trip to the dry cleaners. I have several important meetings. There could be thunderstorms. Pretty tame stuff, really. Even so, challenges come to us all. The courage and confidence we need come from the same place they came from for Moses and Joshua. God’s words of comfort and commission still speak to us in those moments that take our breath away and make our hearts beat faster.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

A good song may also prove helpful. This one speaks to my heart: [https://bit.ly/4b5rTjT](https://bit.ly/4b5rTjT) It says, “When it feels like I’m surrounded, I’m surrounded by you.” Psalm 23 comforts us still. Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” (Matthew 28:20).

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I will go with God into every adventure and danger.

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Our Father, when it feels like I’m surrounded, I’m surrounded by you. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. More importantly, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me. Your goodness and mercy pursue me all the days of my life. Thank you for never ever abandoning me. Amen.