Be Not Dismayed

It is not unusual to find ourselves in some very difficult circumstances these days. As the end of this age grows closer to the great day when Christ finally returns to set up His Kingdom, we have been told that perilous times would come. It is not unusual to experience more and more turmoil as that great day approaches. These are truly the days that try our soul, our faith and our fortitude.


King David in the famous 23 Psalm spoke of walking through the valley of the shadow of death. We do also. Having to do this is not our desire. It runs against everything in us that is human; it runs against our grain. We do not wake up one morning and tell our spouse, "honey, I think I might go for a walk through the valley of the shadow of death today!"


But when we do, and we will, God has promised to be with us during that walk. It must serve a purpose or it would not be happening. Every event in a Believers life serves an eternal purpose.


Take Joshua as an example of one who faced insurmountable odds. He inherited the duties of the great Moses. He saw the rebellion in the wilderness and the older generation pass away and be buried in that wilderness. He led 100,000's of thousands of the next generation to the shores of the Jordan River and their first conquest would be the mighty city of Jericho. Its walls were so think that chariots could ride atop of the walls.


God's promise to Joshua is also His promise to us when we face our insurmountable Jericho; " Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. " (Deuteronomy 31:6)


Again in verse 8 Moses says , " And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."



As God was with Joshua, so He will be with us. As He was with Moses, so He will be with us. (Joshua 1:5) Be strong and of a good courage. This is not a suggestion from God, it is a demand! Verse 9 says, " Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)



We have much more assurance today. We have the promises of Christ that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He will never leave us alone. He did not say that we would not have bouts of fear and doubt; but these are either our human spirit or spirits of fear that we must reject outright and with the authority Christ has give us. He said He has not given us the spirit of fear; but of a sound mind. 


Rebuke this fear when it comes. Rest assured that the same God that told Moses to stretch out a piece of wood over the Red Sea as the armies of Egypt were rushing in to destroy Israel, is the same God that made precious promises to us when we face our Red Sea experience. He is the same; He created the heavens and the earth. It is all His!


" Fear not, for I am with you! Be not dismayed for I AM your God. I will be with you. I will strengthen you, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. " (Isaiah 41:10,11)


It matters not what it is that is against us; doubt, fear, health, humans or principalities and powers of darkness such as unbelief. We have authority given to us by Christ; resist the Devil and he will flee from you. The Name of Christ is above every name mentioned. Learn to use it daily! Spend quality time with Him; get to know Him and His promises to us daily; He who promises will never fail us.