Trust tally

See, the Lord your God has given you the land. . . . Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. — Deuteronomy 1:21

Before my husband and I surrendered our lives to Christ, we seriously considered divorce. But after committing to love and obey God, we recommitted to each other. We sought wise counsel and invited the Holy Spirit to transform us individually and as a couple. Our heavenly Father continues to help us develop healthy communication skills. He’s teaching us how to love and trust Him — and one another — no matter what happens.

Yet, even as we head toward celebrating our 25th anniversary, I occasionally forget everything God has done in and through our trials. Sometimes, I struggle with a deep-seated fear of the unknown — experiencing unnecessary anxiety instead of relying on God’s track record.

In Deuteronomy 1, Moses affirmed the Lord’s reliability. He encouraged the Israelites to move forward in faith so they could enjoy their inheritance (v. 21). But God’s people demanded details about what they’d be up against and what they’d receive before committing to trust Him with their future (vv. 22-33).

Followers of Christ are not immune to succumbing to fear or anxiety. Worrying about what difficulties we may or may not encounter can keep us from depending on faith, and may even damage our relationships with God and others. But the Holy Spirit can help us create a trust tally of the Lord’s past faithfulness. He can empower us with courageous confidence in God’s trustworthiness yesterday, today, and forever. — Xochitl Dixon

Lord, thank You for affirming that we don’t need to know everything that lies ahead when we know You. We know You never change.

READ: Deuteronomy 1:21-33

God’s past faithfulness proves

His everlasting dependability.

Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 18-19 and 2 Timothy 3