“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.” (Deuteronomy31:8NIV)

“The Lord goes before you” means that God acts as a leader, a guide who prepares the path ahead of you before you even arrive.  God prepares the way, He fights the battles before you get there, He is your leader and directs your path.

“He will never leave you nor forsake you” is a double-layered promise of absolute, permanent presence and loyalty.  It means God does not have a loose grip on you.  He will not drop you when things get slippery, nor will He loosen His hold on your life when you make mistakes or feel weak.  This is a promise of physical and emotional presence, support, and commitment to you.

“Do not be afraid” is not an order to instantly erase your feelings, but a reassurance that fear no longer has the final say.  Fear grows when you look only at the problem.  “Do not be afraid” is an invitation to look at God, focus on God who is and was and will always be.  Because you can feel the emotion of FEAR but still move forward in FAITH because you know you are not walking alone.  

“Do not be discouraged” targets your inner resolve and motivation. While fear usually relates to a threat, discouragement happens when your spirit is broken by things happening in your life.  

Through this scripture we find that God leads the way and stays close by our side, even though we might not feel He is there, He is always there.  So do not be afraid or discouraged.  This verse is a powerful declaration that you can face any uncertainty with bold confidence because God is already ahead of you, walking beside you, and fully committed to carrying you through the situation.  It is something to remember when life becomes overwhelming.  God Bless.  Amen.

denise