Inside: When fear overwhelms and the future is uncertain, my favorite scripture provides a powerful framework for building trust and fighting discouragement. ~

Maybe it’s because my word for 2023 is remember, but lately God seems to be reminding me—in fresh new ways—of verses that have been foundational throughout my adult life.

I’m not hearing an audible voice, but the message seems clear.

Remember this? Remember these truths that helped you before? They’re still true. Still relevant. Still powerful and active and able to light the path before you (even if it’s just for the very next step).

This even applies to my favorite Bible verse—Deuteronomy 31:8.

“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)

Timeless Truth

Moses spoke these words to Joshua and the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. But the truths about God that they impart haven’t changed since then.

I first stumbled across Deuteronomy 31:8 almost two decades years ago, after Randy learned he was going to lose the job he’d had for the first 10 years of our marriage. Since then, these two powerful sentences have steadied me through moves, job transitions, loss and change—in my own life and in the lives of my loved ones.

“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.”

The NIV translation is posted on my refrigerator door and displayed on a wood sign over my piano. It’s the version I memorized originally, but I also appreciate the wording in other versions.

For example, The Message paraphrase puts it like this:

“God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.”

Perennial Encouragement

I’ve mentioned my favorite verse in this space many times over the years. (See here, here and here for a few examples.) As my empty nest looms and my girls await open doors and new opportunities, though, it seems like a good time to go through this verse phrase by powerful phrase, mining for truth that steadies and comforts through every question mark and future unknown.

I love the logic of Deuteronomy 31:8. Each segment sets the stage for the next, and in 27 words, we have a wonderful framework for building trust and fighting discouragement.

Your circumstances are probably different from mine, but I hope you are encouraged as you take this journey with me.

The Lord Himself

Forget about substitutes or representatives. We’re talking about God Himself—the Maker of the stars, the Savior of the world, the Alpha and the Omega, the One enthroned in heaven, the One who has all the days of our lives written in His book.

Goes before you

God doesn’t hang back and wait for us to forge our own path. He knows what’s coming—every pain and praise, every gift and grief, every hill and valley—and He gets there ahead of us, every time.

And will be with you

Although it may not feel like it 24/7, part of God’s immutable character is His omnipresence. He is everywhere all at once, which means He is always with us. You, me, our loved ones. Psalm 139:7-10 describes this so well:

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

He will never leave you

Not only does God promise to be with us, but He goes one step further with the assurance that His presence is permanent. No matter what, no matter where. He will not leave us.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)

What a comfort, especially in the wake or aftermath of rejection or abandonment. As Psalm 118:6 puts it, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Nor forsake you

When I think of this phrase, Hebrews 13:5 comes to mind. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ”

The fact that this verse ties contentment to the truth that God will never leave or forsake us is profound. No matter our circumstances, financial or otherwise, we can be content because God is with us. Truly, He is enough.

Do not be afraid

I don’t know exactly how many times the Bible uses phrases like “don’t be afraid” or “fear not,” but there’s no doubt that it’s a recurring theme. God wouldn’t have prompted the writers of scripture to say it so often if He didn’t know that we, as frail finite humans, would often struggle with fear.

Thankfully, we don’t have to fear because of what we’ve already read—that God goes before us, is with us and will not forsake us.

Do not be discouraged

Discouragement (or dismay, as many translations put it) is an insidious enemy. It can sap the very life out of our spirits. This final thought assures us that, no matter what is happening at any given moment, it’s possible not to be discouraged. Instead, we can be encouraged by the truths in this entire verse.

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Now it’s your turn. Is there a specific phrase from Deuteronomy 31:8 that is especially meaningful to you? Please share in the comments.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.