阅读经文 

在一项新任务的开始，有一些惧怕或忧虑是很自然的。我们可能会问自己这样的问题：“如果我不知道该怎么做呢？”或者 “如果我不够好呢？”每当我站在一群人面前做些介绍时——不管是布道、演讲，还是某种形式的展示——这些问题都会在我脑海中闪现，并伴随着惧怕和怀疑。

在我们今天的经文中，约书亚刚刚被告知，神子民的领袖摩西已经死了。现在神告诉约书亚，他将成为带领百姓的人。这是一项多么艰巨的任务啊！ 我们不能责怪约书亚，因为他至少有一点惧怕。但神告诉他要刚强壮胆，不要惧怕、惊惶。这种鼓励不仅仅是打气的话。这是神对约书亚的应许，在神要带他们进入的新土地上，无论他走到哪里，无论他面前的任务有多艰难，神都会与他同在。

我们一直面临着困难，在工作上和学校里，以及与我们的家人和朋友之间。我们有很多机会感到惧怕和惊惶。但神对我们的应许与对约书亚的应许是一样的。无论我们走到哪里，神都会与我们同在。

如果神与我们同在，我们还有什么好怕的呢？

It’s natural to have some fear or apprehension at the beginning of a new task. We may ask ourselves questions like “What if I don’t know what to do?” or “What if I’m not good enough?” Every time I stand up in front of a group of people to present something—whether it’s a sermon, a lecture, or a presentation of some kind—those questions run through my head and are accompanied by fear and doubt.

In our passage today Joshua had just been told that Moses, the leader of God’s people, was dead. And now God told Joshua that he would be the one to lead the people. What a huge task! We couldn’t blame Joshua for at least having a little fear. But God tells him to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid or discouraged. And this encouragement is more than a pep talk. This is God’s promise to Joshua that wherever he goes in the new land that God would bring them into—and however hard the task before him would be—God would always be right there with him.

We face difficulties all the time—at work and school, and with our families and friends. We have many opportunities to be discouraged and afraid. But God’s promise to us is the same as it was to Joshua: God will be with us wherever we go.

And if God is with us, what do we have to fear?