“I will not leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5, ESV).
Truth: God will never leave you
There is only One who can make such a promise to us. People make promises; spouses make vows. However, even with the best intentions, people fail us; people sin; people die. God is not like people. His promises are never broken. When God says that He will never leave us nor forsake us, it is a promise of His constant presence.
God speaks these words to Joshua as Joshua is being commissioned to take Moses’ leadership. Right after making this promise, God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous. We also must be strong and courageous to live lives of faithfulness — to raise our children, to love our spouses, to fulfill our unique calling in this world. The promise to Joshua and the promise to us is God’s presence throughout our lives. We do not have to be strong on our own; we can and will be strong in the Lord. His strength will never fail.
Do you live your life knowing that God is always with you? Do you trust in His presence and rely on His strength? In Psalm 23 David writes, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me”(verse 4). God’s presence dispels fear.
Rest, ladies, rest in God’s perfect presence. With His perfect presence is perfect love. Our God will walk every step of life with us casting out fear and empowering us to be all that He calls us to be. God’s promise enables us to walk courageously through life as His beloved child.