Do Not Be Afraid
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
What Does it Mean?
Do you ever kind of know the meaning of a word but don’t know the exact definition? When I read this scripture I thought about the word “dismayed” . I knew what it meant but sometimes knowing the exact words used in a definition really drives the meaning of a scripture for me. By reading this I know what it means to be strong and of good courage. While I may not know the exact situations to expect, I know when I’m afraid but to be dismayed? I wasn’t so sure this morning. The merriam Webster dictionary gives this:
adjective. dis·mayed dis-ˈmād. diz- Synonyms of dismayed. : experiencing or showing feelings of alarmed concern or dismay : upset, worried, or agitated because of some unwelcome situation or occurrence
That last part, upset, worried or agitated because of some unwelcome situation or occurrence. That’s where I am right now and maybe you are too.
Where are You?
Maybe you expected to be able to depend on someone who let you down. Maybe you depend on the paycheck from your job only to get fired or maybe you just depend on the stability of the way your life has been going and it gets turned upside down by some unforeseen circumstance. Whatever the case may be God promises every single one of us in this scripture that we don’t have to be afraid or upset but to keep pushing and be strong because He will be with us no matter where this situation takes us. He will hold us and strengthen us and guide us through whatever it is. Could be sickness, financial, relational even spiritual .He is with us through it all.
When we come to the end of ourselves and know there is nothing more we can do, that’s when we are able release whatever it is, and ask God to do whatever we can’t do, and the weight of what we are trying to fix is lifted off of us and given to the only one who can really fix it. Trust in God. He will never fail.
(Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 peter 5:7)
Prayer
**God I thank you for your faithfulness and for never leaving me. I pray and ask that you help me to remember to turn to you when I feel dismayed and don’t let me see the situation as bigger than you are. I praise you for your goodness Lord and I know you will never fail me! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.**
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