Walking With Christ

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.(ESV)

There are four statements or claims and two commands in this verse. Most people only see three statements and will only remember one command, do not fear. I think that both tend to be overlooked or forgotten for the same reason.

To be dismayed is to feel a sudden sense of distress, worry, or fear that is often accompanied by a loss of courage or confidence. It’s along the lines of being overwhelmed or disheartened, especially in the face of bad news or especially challenging circumstances. The word dismayed typically implies more than simple sadness or disappointment; it often carries an element of shock or alarm. More often than not, the sense of being dismayed stems from the inability to see a path forward in a given situation.

Which brings us to the overlooked claim in the verse above. It is the Lord who goes before you. The key word is “before”. He is already there on the other side of the troubles we tend to find ourselves in. He calls us to Him through the valley. He calls upon us to trust in Him and be confident in His plans for our lives. This trust in Him can only be found through a relationship with Him. A relationship that is tested over time and built upon a foundation of faith and love, our faith in Him and His love for us. This confidence in and reliance upon Him is the foundation of joy in our lives. Joy, not the fleeting happiness that the world craves by means of self-serving vices, gives us the strength to smile through adversity and sing His praises even in the deepest parts of the valley because we know that He is with us and will guide us through.