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“Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”
Deuteronomy 31:23 (NIV)

The Struggle

My late husband, Ryan, was gifted beyond my comprehension with administration and leadership. He was not a perfect man; no one is. But in this area, he excelled. I could get overwhelmed by all the things I had to do or all the things going on in our lives. But he knew exactly how to lovingly “cut through my crazy” and get to the heart of what I needed to focus on.

He was also a great leader and mentor. After his death, many of his coworkers told me stories of how he mentored them and invested in their lives. He had a way of seeing a path forward and the steps he needed to take to get there. It was uncanny. He never failed at what he wanted to accomplish.

After his death, I faced the remains of his larger-than-life plans. As we all discover, our earthly plans are only temporary; they vanish like smoke when we are gone.

I still had two children at home, 14 and 18 – one getting ready to start High School, and one getting ready to start college. I was still teaching full-time, and I knew juggling all of our schedules was going to be a serious challenge. Also, our home was beginning to age, and I kid you not, the day after he passed away, appliances began to quit working. First it was the washing machine, then the microwave, then the oven, the dishwasher, the bathroom plumbing, and to top it all off – in the Texas heat of that first summer, our air conditioner.

I was left wondering how I could possibly step into shoes I was never meant to fill. How could I finish raising my kids, manage my household, and make good financial decisions?

The promise Joshua needed – and I needed

In Deuteronomy, we find the story of another leader preparing to fill very big shoes, as Joshua prepares to succeed Moses. I feel sorry for Joshua when I read this story. Who could possibly follow Moses’s act? Scripture describes him as a prophet like no other, who knew the Lord face to face. No one compares to him until Christ.

Also, at Joshua’s commissioning, the Lord tells the great leader and his protégé that when Moses dies, the Israelites will abandon everything Moses taught them. They will prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land, reject the Lord, and break His covenant (Deut 31:14-21 NIV).

So… good luck, Joshua!

However, God isn’t surprised, and He knows what Joshua must deal with.

He tells Joshua,

“Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”
Deuteronomy 31:23 (NIV)

Like me, you may be most familiar with this command in Joshua 1:9, but I didn’t realize that the Lord had already assured Joshua with these words three previous times!

Thank goodness, because like Joshua, I need so much repetition. I never seem to learn my lesson the first time. I’m always questioning, “are You sure, Lord? Is this really what You want me to do?”

We never see Joshua questioning the Lord, but why else would He have stated it over and over? God wanted to assure Joshua, comfort him, build his faith, and strengthen his confidence that – yes, God Himself, – the creator of the Universe, the Great I AM, Yahweh, who led the Israelites out of captivity and made an eternal covenant with them – HE WOULD BE WITH THEM.

And He was. With the Lord beside him, Joshua led the Israelites to several significant victories, and they entered the promised land.

They had problems along the way and didn’t always follow the Lord’s commands, but nevertheless, the Lord Himself was with His people.

God fills in the gaps

Five years after Ryan’s homegoing, I can honestly say, yes, the Lord Himself has been with me. He guided me through all the appliances breaking, gave me opportunities to learn about household issues, and has completely taken over my finances. The Lord provided Godly men to pour into my son. Additionally, He sent wise advisors and family friends to guide my daughter through college. He knows what my weaknesses are, and He fills in the gaps.

I will never be as gifted as my husband in running our household or visualizing a path through complicated circumstances. But my God is, and He has shown up over and over, reminding me,

Tiffany,

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Dear Lord, You are so good to us! Thank you for promising to go with us wherever we go. Remind us that You, yourself, are with us, walking beside us, guiding us, and protecting us. We have nothing to fear because you are on our side. Amen