“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread… for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

 Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

Welcome, seekers of strength in faith! Today, let’s explore the transformative power of encouragement as we delve into the words of Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread… for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Have you ever felt the tug of fear or uncertainty? I know that I have felt it. Heck, I felt it while I was writing this devotional. It is like a whisper of doubt that clouds the mind. God’s assurance in Deuteronomy reminds us to be strong and courageous, for His presence is our constant companion, guiding us through the unknown.

Encouragement acts as a catalyst for change. It’s the gentle push, the unwavering support that propels us forward when doubt tries to hold us back. It whispers, “You’ve got this,” when the journey seems daunting.

This is something that as we grow older doesn’t come as easy to us.  Think back to when you were a teenager. What scared you? Most likely the opposite sex! Lol.  I know for me that was about all that scared me.  Well girls and of course basement of our house (just like in home alone, lol) 

Anyways, what happened from the years when we were teenagers until today????  We experience life. And in life, we have setbacks and hear no a lot more.  We feel that we HAVE to be an “Adult” and that adults make smart decisions every time. 

The truth is that the strongest person in the world still makes mistakes. They just own their mistakes and learn from them. 

Fear often veils our potential for greatness. Yet, through encouragement, we find the strength to confront our fears, knowing that we’re not alone in the battle. Knowing that you have the BIGGEST, most BADA$$ in the history of history on your side should bring you comfort and give you the courage to face your EVERY fear. 

The assurance that the Lord never leaves nor forsakes us is my beacon of hope. It’s a promise that fuels my courage, enabling me to embrace change and transformation with confidence. It gives the ability to do things that most logical, sane people would never do.  Like leaving an extremely high-paying position to start my own business where I had one client that paid me $2000 a year!  Putting everything on the line because I KNEW that God was calling me to do it!

Now I’d like you to think back to moments when encouragement propelled you to embrace change. Where did that encouragement come from?  Was it your spouse, your parents, your kids, your coworkers, your leader, your pastor, or your mentor, who was it???????? 

It’s remarkable how a few words of encouragement can ignite a spark, leading to profound transformations.

Life’s journey is dotted with hurdles that we need to figure out how to get past. And encouragement serves as a shield, fortifying us to push past obstacles and step into new territories, unafraid of what lies ahead.

Embracing change requires bravery. Encouragement empowers us to take those pivotal steps, nudging us toward growth, resilience, and new horizons.

Knowing that God walks beside us encourages our hearts. His unwavering presence fuels our courage, reminding us that change, though daunting, is accompanied by divine guidance.

So, here we are, right in the middle of life’s journey, remembering something super important: when we’re scared or feeling unsure, God’s right there with us, holding our hands through it all. Encouragement? Well, that’s like a secret superhero power. It’s that magical thing that helps us change when we need to, it’s the superhero cape that helps us tackle the tough stuff, and it’s that special boost of bravery that whispers, “You can do this,” when we’re facing our biggest fears.

You know, even the strongest folks around us mess up sometimes. But you know what’s awesome? Encouragement helps us be real about it. It’s like having a bunch of friends cheering you on, telling you, “It’s okay, we all stumble sometimes, but you’ve got this!”

Let’s grab onto that courage, you know, that strength hiding inside us. And let’s not forget about God’s promise. He’s like our GPS through life, always there to guide us, even when the road seems a bit bumpy or foggy. And hey, those people cheering us on? They’re like the sidekicks in our superhero story, reminding us that we’re never alone.

So, with faith as our trusty sidekick, let’s take those steps forward. Let’s step into the unknown, knowing that no matter what happens, we’ve got God and a whole bunch of folks rooting for us. After all, in every step we take, we’re never alone.

Let’s commit to being encouragers. By uplifting others, we perpetuate a cycle of positivity, fostering a world where courage thrives, and change becomes an opportunity.