God has made some very big promises to His people. The biggest of those is, of course, eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. For me, what is probably the next most encouraging promise is that God will be with me no matter what. And if God be with me, there is no one and nothing that can successfully be against me.
Joshua 1:5-6 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
The key to receiving the promises of God in our lives is to be strong and of a good courage. God has not promised us that there will be no obstacles. There will be; and often they will be big and hairy and frightening ones. But with God’s presence, with His strength, and the courage of unbending faith in Him, we can overcome every obstacle.
The key to being strong and of a good courage, to overcoming all opposition and being successful in what you undertake, is, “I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” It is the Lord’s manifest presence that gives me confidence and power to overcome the obstacles life will throw my way.
I must deliberately decide to stand on God’s promise that He will not leave nor forsake me, whatever the circumstance I face. Only then can I be strong and of a good courage. I must not wilt by falling into doubt when the going gets tough.
I make the decision to stand firm because of God’s promise to be with me. It is that assurance that gives me strength and courage.
Just as Joshua went out and conquered based on the promise and gift of God, so I too have God’s promise and His gifts. As Joshua received his inheritance because of his faithfulness to God, so can I. But it all depends on me making the determination that because He is with me and will never leave me, I can and will “be strong and of a good courage.”
Ron Franklin
