I was reading Deuteronomy this morning, the part when Joshua is about to lead the Israelites into the promised land, and God commands them, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (1:9). A few things struck me…one is that the Israelites had been lead through their actual wilderness journey by pillars of cloud and fire that were Gods very presence. His glory and power on full display. And they still needed this command! How much more do we need this reminder when we have buried Gods presence deep beneath the clutter and chaos of our lives.

The other thing that jumped out at me is that praying for strength and courage is pretty common. But discouragement…doesn’t that just come with the territory? Isn’t that just an emotion that likes to tag along with hardship? Don’t we have bigger things to pray about? But God knows discouragement is always in our wilderness. It goes hand-in-hand with times of fear, times of hopelessness, times of weakness. And yet He commands us to give it over to Him! And when we do, He gives us courage that drives out discouragement. Victory that drives out defeat. Peace that drives out fear. Strength that sets us on solid ground.

And literally as I was reading this passage and pondering it all…a song came on my playlist with the opening lines…

“Out of the wilderness

Into Your deliverance

Look where I’m standing now…”

There are pillars of cloud and fire all around us…and instead of just one leading us by day and night, they are too numerous to count…because our clouds and fire are Gods Holy Spirit that Jesus left with us, in us, in His place! And when we ask Him…He guides us in the wilderness, equips us with everything that we need, and it’s suddenly easy to replace discouragement with courage, because…see that single set of footprints…we’re getting a piggy back ride!

“This hand that once was chained

Now lifted high in praise

Look where I’m standing now

I stand on the chain breaking

Miracle making, powerful name of Jesus

On the body raising

Prodigal saving, powerful name of Jesus

Led by Your mighty hand

Into the promise land

Look where I’m standing now

You carried the cross for me

Now I am a child of The King

Oh, look where I’m standing now

Hallelujah, I’m free

Jesus my saviour rescued me”

Look Where I’m Standing Now, by Phil Wickham