Devotion

As one year ends and another begins, what lies ahead? No one knows. The future is hidden. Yet God speaks to Joshua with these words: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. This is not based on circumstances being favorable. This is based on God's presence. God will be with you wherever you go. This is the foundation for courage: not that everything will go as you hope, but that you will not be alone. God is with you in blessing and in difficulty. God is with you in victory and in failure. God is with you in joy and in sorrow. This presence is enough. This presence is everything. As you move into 2026 and beyond, you will face challenges you cannot anticipate. You will encounter disappointment. You will struggle. But you will not be alone. God will be with you. And that presence will give you courage. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward despite fear because you trust in a presence larger than your fear. Courage is standing firm despite uncertainty because you trust in a God who is larger than uncertainty. Courage is loving fiercely despite the possibility of heartbreak because you trust in a love that transcends all loss. This is what God offers: Not protection from difficulty, but presence in difficulty. Not freedom from fear, but courage despite fear. Not absence of struggle, but companionship in struggle. Accept this offer. Be strong and courageous. God is with you.