The Lord Goes With You
Deuteronomy 31:6
- Type
- Devotional
- Topic
- Faith & Trust
- Books
- Deuteronomy
- Written for
- Teens & Adults
- Notes
- 371 words
How you may use this
Use it as you wish. Adapt it, cut it, teach it. The personal stories are mine: either credit me for those or, better, tell your own. Most of the rest I gathered from other sources over the years, so I claim little original here. My one requirement — do not take this and teach it without further study.
The notes
There is an episode of Little House on the Prairie where a tornado hits the Ingalls farm and destroys everything. It destroys his crops it kills some of his animals, it damages buildings. And Charles, one of the characters in the show, is so deeply discouraged by this but he’s ready to pack up everything and leave. He told his wife, “We were finally going to be okay this year, finally get ahead“ and then he says “Why did God let this happen? I’ve always been a good Christian I’ve always tried to live the way he wants me to live and be a devout Christian, Why did he let this happen?”
His wife and children are supportive of him but are deeply affected by Charles discouragement and so his daughter Laura goes to the preacher because she’s worried that her Pa is angry with God. The preacher encourages Laura by reminding her that her pa is a man who loves God and then he says this:
“God never promises to keep us from hard times. But what he does promise to be there with us when we go through those hard times.”
The kids sing a devotional song and it goes like this:
Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid, The Lord goes before you each and every day.
That song comes from Deuteronomy 31.6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The story goes on and Charles is able to make repairs and he’s reminded of God’s love, decides to stay in Walnut Grove and all is well for the Ingalls family.
If you or someone you know is going to hard times right now, just remember that even though God never promises to keep those times from us he’ll always be there with us.
He’s also blessed us with our church family to help encourage each other. So if you have any spiritual need - if you need to put your trust back in God or you need to be baptized into Christ tonight - please come right now while we stand and sing.
Near it on the shelf