I’m feeling the passing of the years. All too often I spend my days moaning about my aching joints and muscles. (Psalm 90:9).

This feeling came again as I attended my 50th high school reunion.

We moaned about our aching muscles.

We moaned about our many classmates whose Senior Yearbook photos filled a table decorated: “In Loving Memory of Our Classmates Who Have Gone Before Us.”

I was afraid and discouraged as I contemplated so much illness and death, both in our past and in our future.

On my birthday, I again felt afraid and discouraged. So many friends and family have “gone on before me”.

To overcome these feelings and to raise my spirits, I remembered what Moses said to Joshua when Joshua was going to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Moses encouraged Joshua with these words:

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.” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

More than 3,000 years have passed since Moses spoke these words of encouragement. Nevertheless, they still encourage all who follow the Way of the LORD. All who follow the Way of Jesus. Including me!

My thoughts turn to these words when I feel afraid or discouraged.

My thoughts turn to these words when I feel alone or forsaken.

These words encourage me. These words raise my spirits.

Why?

Because, as the Prayer of Moses in Psalm 90 reminds me:

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

     throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born

     or you brought forth the whole world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God. . . . .

Teach us to number our days,

     that we may gain a heart of wisdom. . . . .

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

     that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. . . . .

May your deeds be shown to your servants,

     your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

     establish the work of our hands for us—

     yes, establish the work of our hands.

     (Psalm 90:1-2,12,14,16-17).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

When have you felt afraid or discouraged? Why?

When have you felt alone or forsaken? Why?

When did Jesus feel forsaken (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)? Why? How does Jesus referring to Psalm 22 teach us to overcome feeling forsaken?

How do you overcome feeling afraid or discouraged, alone or forsaken?

READ MORE

Please read PART TWO of my book The Promised Land: “Establishing the Work of Your Hands: Moses”.

I have added these words of encouragement from Deuteronomy 31:8 to my morning meditations. I meditate upon them after I meditate upon Psalm 118:24: “This is the Day that the LORD hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” and before I meditate upon  Psalm 117:2: “The hesed of the LORD endures forever.” (paraphrasing several versions).

For blogs about meditating in the morning, please read my blogs “Meditations: This Is the Day that the LORD Hath Made”, “Meditations: Let It Go”, “Meditations: Be Still”, “Meditations: A Good Parent Is a Good Shepherd”, “Meditations: THIS Is the DAY!”, “Meditations: Hesed Endures Forever”, “Meditations: Hesed Redeems Forever”, “Meditations: Hesed Blesses Forever”, “Meditations: Listening”, “Going Further onto the Patio”, “Amazing Grace: Birdsongs!”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Leaves and Birds”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Meditating”, “A Foggy Sunrise”, “Mountains and Hills Breaking Into Song”, and “God Cares for Each Bird That I See Each Morning”.