Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a calling, uncertain about the future, or afraid you weren't enough? In today's Crosswalk Devotional, we reflect on Deuteronomy 31:8, where God promises to go before His people, remain with them, and never leave or forsake them. His presence doesn't always remove our fears—but it gives us the courage to move forward in faith.

Just as Joshua was called to lead Israel into the Promised Land, we often face assignments that feel bigger than our abilities. Yet God never calls us to walk alone. He goes before us, prepares the way, provides what we need, and faithfully holds us through every challenge. Our confidence is not found in our own strength, but in the God who never lets go.

Highlights:

• Discover how Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us that God goes before us and never abandons His children.
• Learn why God's presence gives us courage even when we feel inadequate or afraid.
• Be encouraged to trust that God equips those He calls to fulfill His purposes.
• Understand how Joshua's story points to the confidence we can have in God's faithfulness today.
• Reflect on how fear loses its power when we remember God is already preparing the way.
• Find peace knowing your future rests in God's hands—not your own abilities.

Join the Conversation

Where is God asking you to trust Him in a situation that feels bigger than you? How does His promise to never leave or forsake you give you confidence to take the next step? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

How God’s Presence Strengthens Our Faith 

By Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” - Deut. 31:8, NIV

When first invited to podcast, I wrestled with God for some time. I wondered why anyone would want to listen to me when there are so many other great podcasts from which they can choose. What if I was boring or ran out of things to say? But my biggest concern was that I’d make a fool of myself. I’d spoken to live audiences numerous times. People I could look in the face and respond to their cues. But speaking into a computer screen? Learning about all the technological elements felt a bit overwhelming. The more I prayed on this, however, the more the Lord made it clear that this opportunity came from Him. And that changed everything, because I knew, deep in my soul, when God assigns, He always provides everything we need to do all that He asks. More importantly, I also knew He would remain with me each step of my journey.

Although that didn’t remove my insecurity, it gave me the courage to step into something that’s brought satisfaction and a lot of precious, prayerful moments with the Lord.

Now, I realize my situation was nothing like Joshua’s. God gave this warrior-commander a massive assignment—to lead ancient Israel, a challenging group to say the least, into the Promised Land, an area occupied by powerful people groups with organized armies, living in fortified cities. 

And Moses, the man who had led them through many frightening situations in the forty years prior and who spoke with the Almighty face-to-face, wouldn’t accompany him. 

But Joshua wouldn’t be alone. The Lord would remain with him.

He promised to go before Joshua—charting the way, removing what would hinder God’s purpose, and preparing him for everything he’d encounter.

He also went ahead of His people in the sense that He’d already provided the blessing Joshua and the people needed to possess. Again, God had already given them the land, but they still had to actively take hold of it. They had to cross the Jordan River and engage in battle, but would do so from a place of victory. 

The Lord would never leave or forsake them. In the original Hebrew, one could phrase this as, “He will never turn His back on you, and He will never release His grip on your life.”

He’s made that same promise to you.

Intersecting Life & Faith:

God is always moving closer, especially when you feel overwhelmed, insecure, or afraid, and He always keeps you locked in His loving gaze.

That is why we don’t have to feel discouraged or afraid. 

Discouragement often rises when we realize something is beyond our control, and we lack the strength, clarity, or ability to fix whatever stands before us. But according to today’s verse, that will never be the case. We always have the power, presence, and provision of the Almighty Creator God with us. He goes before us, works within us, stands behind us, and surrounds us with His all-encompassing love. 

Fear often follows discouragement—it’s the what-if scenarios that flood our minds when we think about our sense of powerlessness. 

Faith grows when we remember that we’re not alone, nor must we navigate our problems on our own. We are always held, helped, protected, and empowered by the One who remains with us, fights for us, and has already secured our victory—your victory!—through His death and resurrection.

This weekend, when stress or anxiety rise, pause and reflect on today’s verse. Let it remind you that your safety and future don’t rest on your ability to figure things out—God goes before you, remains with you, and faithfully leads you on the best path for your life. Remind yourself that your success and safety aren’t up to you. God’s got you. He’ll never turn His back or release His strong yet gentle grip on your life. 

And, if you’d like additional encouragement, I invite you to download my free resource: When Fear Hits: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts. Find it on my website’s freebie page. And may you live with the confidence and courage of one who is chosen, called, and empowered by the Almighty. 

Further Reading:
Deuteronomy 31:1-8
Joshua 1:1-9
Exodus 23:20