Promises
“God Is With You”
Joshua 1:5-9

Common fears
Snakes + spiders
Heights + flying
Public speaking
Health problems
Finances
Current events + government

We all experience fear. We all face discouragement. But God makes a powerful promise.

God promises to always be with us.

Moses led God’s people through impossible things – Egypt, plagues, Red Sea, 40 years in the wilderness – and now, Joshua is up next.

“And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face…” –Deuteronomy 34:9-10

Joshua 1:5-9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:9

Fear = terror, dread, alarm
Dismayed = discouraged, shattered

Fear has consequences. The people doubted God’s promise. Only Joshua, Caleb, and the younger generation made it in. The rest wandered for 40 years.

“However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.” –Numbers 13:27-28

“So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” –Numbers 13:32-33

Don’t let fear keep you from what God is giving you.

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

Fear has the ability to draw us away from God.

How to combat fear
“… meditate on it day and night …” –Joshua 1:8

God is bigger 
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” –Isaiah 41:10

“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed …” –Isaiah 54:17

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).” –Matthew 1:23

If God is for you, who can be against you?

God is with you! Nothing has, can or will surprise God. He is seated on the Throne.
He’s been with His people throughout history, and He is with you!
Be strong and courageous. Walk in the strength of the Lord.

God is with you wherever you go!