Don’t Be Afraid or Discouraged

A quiet pause.

Regina had already decided to accept the task the Lord called her to, to live the dream of her youth.

She chose to ignore the scary thoughts (most whispered by the enemy) that begged for her attention: “How will you get this done?” “Do really you think you can learn all the technology you need?” “No one starts something like this at your age!”

Some things she had learned in the past, but with changes in computer technology, software “versions” and social media she felt even more clueless than before.

One thing she discovered: Google was her friend.

It seemed she Googled “what is” or “how to do” something almost every day. Yes, Google was definitely her new BFF (best friend forever).

“’See, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.’” (Deu 1:21 CSB). She’d read the words in her quiet time; they seemed highlighted on the page.

Like the Hebrews, Regina was on the verge of entering her “promised land.”

It had taken soo long to get here!

Often, she had remembered the Lord’s response to Habakkuk’s question (asked in a very different circumstance): “’How long, Lord…?’” (Hab 1:2a) “’The Lord answered me [Habakkuk]… For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.’” (Hab 2:2-3 CSB).

“…not be late.” It certainly felt late. Many times she had told herself this day would never come.

One thing was sure: she was too old for a forty-year “time out” (as the Hebrews had suffered). Unless the Lord planned for her to live almost as long as Moses (120 years) she would expire before the “time-out” ended.

In the quiet, the Lord’s words of assurance and encouragement to Joshua echoed in her heart. Click To Tweet

After the death of Moses, Moses’ faithful servant Joshua stood before the Lord. The Lord charged Joshua with leading the people into the promised land.

A huge and terrifying job. (Joshua had observed the peoples’ behavior for more than forty years.)

But the Lord made a promise to Joshua: ‘Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you…. Be strong and courageous…. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law … do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go…. meditate on [My word] day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!’” (Joshua 1:5-9 NASB).

Regina had always imagined Joshua standing, knees knocking, listening with fear and trepidation. But when she noticed the Lord concluded with “’Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go’” (Joshua 1:9 NASB) she knew He had seen the heart of His frightened servant.

What an encouragement the Lord’s compassionate words must have been!

In the quiet of the pause, Regina found herself encouraged, too.

 

 

 

 

© Debbie Lowe, Life Lessons from the Living Word, 2021.