LISTEN ONLINEI had never felt so alone. Traipsing through a Sydney suburb with my backpack lost in transit between Hong Kong and Australia, I was a stranger without friends or a change of clothes. Huddling down on the pavement, I rested my chin on my knees. A week before, I’d carefully packed all I might need for my extended travels. But that’s when I remembered I wasn’t alone. Closing my eyes, I focused my racing thoughts on the most important thing: God’s promised presence with me.
This promised presence is repeated throughout Scripture, and was given personally to Joshua: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5) after Moses, the Israelites’ great leader, died within reach of their new homeland (v. 1). God understood the fears and concerns that Joshua would feel in the light of his enormous responsibilities, repeatedly encouraging him to “Be strong and courageous” (vv. 6, 7, 9). For as Joshua chose God’s commands to direct his life, he too could be assured of God’s unfailing presence ( vv. 7–9).
We may feel alone when facing intense challenges: grieving a loved one, anxious about practical needs, or assuming new responsibilities. But God’s promise remains: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (v. 9). As we receive this truth into our hearts and minds, it comforts and reassures us, diffusing fear.