No fear!

So, here's the last devotion I wrote for student teaching.  I was trying to make a point for the 8th graders, but mostly it was for me.  Selfish, I know, but I wanted not only to end strong but I wanted to remind myself of this simple fact: God is with me no matter what, so don't be afraid.

Deuteronomy 31:8
“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.”

God tends to repeat Himself.  A lot.  Part of that is because we, His people, tend to do a really good job at not listening.  Whether it’s some encouragement or reminder of the rules, it doesn’t matter; we universally ignore our Creator.
That’s why there are so many verses and themes in the Bible that sound somewhat similar.  The sentiment “be strong and courageous” is one of these.  Over the last few weeks, we’ve heard Deuteronomy 31:6, and John 16:33, not to mention a passing acknowledgment of Joshua 1:6.  But here’s one that slips through our theological nets.
Moses is getting ready to pass the proverbial baton to his “sidekick” Joshua.  He has the leaders of Israel, as well as the whole nation, listen to a final “pep talk” before they embark on a mission of reclaiming their inheritance.
But the 120-something year old leader remembers when they sent spies into the Promised Land.  Most came back too scared to go back in and fight.  Now, forty years later, the children of that generation are staring into the unknown and untamed wilderness of Canaan.  They remember the stories their parents and grandparents told them, and, most likely, they are terrified.  Terrified of impregnable walled cities.  Terrified of 9 foot tall giant warriors.  Terrified of armies equipped with the most advanced technology of the day.
God, through Moses, reminds them that He is with them.  This last verse in the section is kind of a recap.  Basically “God is with you,” “don’t be scared,” and “don’t be discouraged.”  But aren’t those last two the same?
No.  Being scared is to be frightened of something that seems more powerful than yourself.  The cause of the emotion is outside yourself.  Being discouraged is to lose confidence in your abilities.  This cause is internal, and likely for most of us it is the harder one to vanquish.
But that is what God calls us to do.  He asks, no, implores and commands, us to be “strong and courageous”.  We are not to be discouraged for any reason.  Why?  Because God goes before us, clearing our path so that there is nothing to frighten us or cause us to despair.
That is why “do not be discouraged” is the last in the verse.  It will become quite obvious for the Israelites that God is powerful enough to eliminate that which stands in their way.  What is not so certain is whether God can and will eliminate the feelings of inadequacy.
To be rid of our trials, our “giants,” God may simply remove them completely, or He may place us in such a way that, with His help, we can eliminate them ourselves.  Dealing with despair, though, requires ourselves to act.  We have to let go of that which is weighing us down.  We have to turn it over to God, the only one who can bear our burdens.
Because we have someone who can carry our burdens, we have no reason to be discouraged.  We know that Jesus Christ bore every lie that was ever and will ever be told in an attempt to discourage us for loving and serving God fully.  So why are we still walking around with our heads hanging and our shoulders drooped?  Why are we hanging onto our discouragements?  Cast them on God and go out to do His work while we still have time.

Father Almighty,
Too often we allow the world around us to discourage and terrify us, and we selfishly hang onto that which seeks to destroy us.  Give us the strength to let go and place all out sorrows, struggles, and burdens on Your Son, the only one who could bear them.  Give us a spirit of courage and strength to live our lives to Your Glory.
Amen