You’re Not Doing This Alone

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Life Lesson 59: Life sometimes throws real challenges your way. This isn’t negativity, just honesty. When hard times arrive, fear often follows. What matters most is how you handle it. I found out for myself that courage isn’t about having no fear. It’s about choosing not to let fear take over. Keep in mind, what keeps you steady is stronger than anything you’re up against.

A little background

Picture Moses at 120 years old. He has led millions through the desert for 40 years. Because of a moment of disobedience earlier in the journey, God tells him he cannot enter the promised land. Now, as he stands at the edge of that land, he learns he will not cross over with them.

The people felt afraid as they faced a new leader, a new land, and many unknowns. Moses does not promise that things will be easy or tell them to rely on their own strength. Instead, he points them to God as their source of courage.

God goes with you, not just ahead of you.

Did you notice that word? Goes. Not “watches over you from far away.” Not “will send help eventually.” Goes. Right with you. Same road. Same steps.

That is who God has always been. Throughout the Bible, he keeps showing up: walking in the garden, leading his people through the wilderness, and finally coming as Jesus to live among us. Even now, his Spirit lives in those who follow him.

No matter your struggle, whether it is health, relationships, or a difficult season, God is truly with you. Think about a tough situation, like losing a job or dealing with a conflict with a family member. In moments like these, when uncertainty or hurt feels heavy, God does not leave you. You are never facing it alone.

He won’t walk out on you.

The second part of the verse takes it even further: “he will never leave you nor forsake you.” No fine print. No exceptions. God’s not going anywhere.

Some days, it does not feel that way, does it? Sometimes prayer feels like talking to the ceiling, life feels hard, and God seems far away. If you feel comfortable, share a time when God felt distant to you. What was that like, and how did you get through it? Hearing each other’s stories can remind us we are not alone in feeling this way. But remember, this promise does not depend on how we feel. It depends on who God is, and he has never broken his word.

That’s where courage comes from

Moses urges the people to be strong and brave, not because of their own abilities, but because God is with them. That is the main reason they can have courage.

Being brave does not mean you have no fear. It means moving forward, trusting that God is right beside you. His presence is enough.

Think about it

Take a moment and ask yourself honestly: Where in your life are you acting like you’re on your own right now? Not where you think you should be struggling, but where you actually are, the quiet exhaustion, the white-knuckle decision, the thing you keep trying to figure out alone.

Now bring it one step further. Has there been a time, maybe years ago, maybe last month when you genuinely felt God’s presence in the middle of something hard? What was different then? Was it a person who showed up? A verse that wouldn’t leave you alone? A moment of unexpected peace?

Whatever it was, it wasn’t an accident. And the same God who met you there hasn’t moved. The goal isn’t to manufacture a feeling. It’s to remember that you were never as alone as you felt, and you aren’t now either. Start there. Go back to what worked. Lean on it again. He’s still right there.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20b, NIV