Take Courage

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

I don’t know about you, but life doesn’t always seem fair. There are days that just don’t go at all well. There are days I just want to curl up in a ball and cry. There are days I want to go back to where it is comfortable and nothing is expected of me.

As we approach the cross together, I need to be reminded that Jesus never promised me a rose garden. In fact He says there will be days of persecution and despair. There will be days that are really tough to handle.

What is so extremely special about our Jesus is He already knows this. He is experiencing these days as He travels toward Jerusalem. He knows the frustration we feel, the discouragement we experience…He knows.

What would have happened if 2,000 years ago Jesus gave up, became so frustrated with His followers, those He was trying to teach, and just threw His hands in the air and said, That’s it! I’m done!?

What would have happened if He didn’t have the strength to make it to Calvary? What if He just laid down in the road and said, I’m too tired, worn out, can’t go on?

What would have happened if He had panicked when the soldiers came to Gethsemane to arrest Him and He ran away?

What would have happened?

We are blessed to know that He didn’t give up, didn’t get worn out, didn’t panic.

So He won’t let us give up either. He encourages us to be strong. He gives us the courage to take the next step and not retreat. He reminds us to not panic with the direction He is leading us.

When you experience those tough days, please remember what His Word says: the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. And that’s a promise we can stand on!

Jesus,
Please forgive me for having this pity party. Please forgive me for wanting to retreat, instead of going forward with You. I am so unworthy of Your presence, yet I long to be with You each day. I am so blessed You chose me.
I praise You, Jesus, for what You did. The courage, strength and determination to go through all the stuff You did, and then to have to walk to the cross. What hurts my heart so much, is to know You had to do it all by Yourself. You are the One true God.
When I have my down days and tough days to get through, I have the blessing of having You right there with me. Your Spirit gives me comfort and courage to keep going. No matter where I may travel, You will never leave me. You know I could never do life alone, thank You, my King, for being my constant Companion! I love You!
Amen