When we’re having to walk into a new situation, we can feel anxious because of the unknowns that lie ahead of us. Israel had just come out of 430 years of slavery. Now they were free to own their own homes, raise their own families, work at jobs they liked, and be well paid for it. But the Promised Land wasn’t problem-free. There were enemies who had to be conquered one by one, which would take time. ‘The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you’ (Deuteronomy 7:22 NIV). This can feel quite similar to some of the situations we find ourselves in. Sometimes we’re about to embark on a new relationship, a new job, or an unfamiliar area where we don’t have all the answers, and because we don’t know exactly what’s involved, we feel anxious about it. But God not only promises to be with us every step of the way, He also promises that He’s already gone ahead of us. He knows the things we’ll have to face. He knows the way we need to walk. The Bible says: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you…The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you’ (Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NIV). That’s an amazing promise. We’ll never be left on our own, and we never have to fear the unknown because God knows everything about our futures. It may feel new and scary, but we can walk forwards confidently because we know it’s the same, faithful God guiding us.

What Now?

Think about a situation you’re facing that feels scary because of the unknowns. Every time you imagine a problem which could arise in that situation, say out loud: ‘God is with me, and has gone before me.’