I remember my very first mission trip to Honduras. We were flying into Tegucigalpa, known for one of the most intense airport landings in the world. As we descended, I could see hillsides packed with homes and buildings pressed close together, and I felt my stomach knot up. Once we landed, we drove down muddy roads with fast and unpredictable drivers and almost no signs to guide us. People warned us about trafficking dangers, disease, and health crises that overwhelmed the area. To be honest, I felt afraid and overwhelmed. I had stepped into a place far from home and far from what felt safe.
Life can feel like that sometimes, can’t it? Overwhelming, scary, confusing. We carry emotions like regret, guilt, shame, depression, anxiety, and anger. Whether you are a parent navigating family life or a child facing a new school year, we all hit bumps in the road. We get scared. We get discouraged. And we wonder if we can really keep going.
That is where Scripture speaks such good news. God does not just send us on a journey. God goes with us. That is exactly what Joshua needed to hear. After Moses, the great leader of Israel, died, God called Joshua to step forward and lead the people into the Promised Land. Joshua knew the challenges ahead. Fortified cities. Powerful armies. A future filled with uncertainty. The weight of responsibility had to feel enormous.
In Joshua 1:1 through 9, God speaks directly to Joshua and says, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then comes the verse we hold onto so tightly: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” This is not just encouragement. It is a promise. God does not say, “Be strong because you have it all together.” God says, “Be strong because I am with you.”
That promise is for us too. On the road. At school. At work. At home. God is with us every mile and every moment. So what road are you on right now? What lies ahead that feels uncertain or scary? Starting school, making new friends, changing jobs, moving, or simply trying to keep up with everyday life. This week, as we journey together through VBS, we remember that the most important part is not the games, snacks, or songs. It is the reminder that God is the one who goes with us, and we are never alone.
So let us go forward from here strong and courageous. Not because everything is perfect, but because God is with us wherever we go. In morning routines, at bedtime, on long car rides, and in quiet moments of worry, let us remind one another of this truth. Say it with me: “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Grace and peace because grace always goes before peace,
Pastor Sharon