Beautiful Word Devotional #113

The LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.

Numbers 14:9

Joshua and Caleb reported the richness of the promised land, yet the people were afraid to enter it. Joshua and Caleb saw the beauty of the land and described it as “flowing with milk and honey” (v. 8). The ten other spies, however, ignored the blessings and concentrated instead on the people too strong to conquer. Joshua encouraged the nation of Israel to enter the land God had promised them, but the Israelites were too afraid.

Maybe you feel like the Israelites. Maybe you see your problems as giants that cannot be conquered and that are bigger than what God can handle. When that is your perspective, you are exercising your worry muscle. But when you instead ask God for help, you are exercising your faith muscle and making it stronger. As a result, you also begin to see the good things God has for you where before you had seen only giants.

Worry and fear can prevent you from seeing the good. So when you sense worry or fear encroaching, turn your heart away from the giants and look to God.

Lord, please help me have faith in your ability to rescue me, amen.