First, there was the drought! We had to learn to be careful with our water and food. Next the bushfires, to teach us to be careful with our environment; and now, we are learning to be careful with our health.

It might be just the teacher in me, but I see an upgrading of the lessons here. Each lesson is a little more difficult and affects more people.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
~ Joshua 1:9

Remember, this young man had been helping Moses for years and yet, it seems when the time came to lead, he was feeling very alone and unqualified. Why do I think this? Well, God had to tell him twice in a short space of time to be strong and courageous.

There will be many of us who will have cope with things that we have never done before. Homeschooling children, even just staying at home all day every day, will challenge some of us. Some of us will be learning new skills and relearning old ones, some that have been buried as old hat.

Yet, God is saying the same thing to us, His people, His leaders, His family, that He said to Joshua.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Learning to trust Him in all the circumstances we face is the overall lesson, the lesson that runs through all that has happened to us over the last year and will continue to run through any new lessons that He might want us to have.

I claim this promise for any time of tribulation, and look forward to Him being glorified soon.

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;
but for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened.”
~ Matthew 24:22

Prayer
Lord, we know that we can trust You no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. As we learn new skills and skills that have been lost to history, we thank You for the opportunity to show the world that You give us strength and courage that can only come from You.
Amen.

[Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash]