November 16, 2021: In Every Battle

“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” (Josh. 1:9, NKJV).

God has creative ways of bringing Scripture into our minds to encourage us. This verse became a favorite of mine during an anxious period in my life.

I woke up one morning to a spinning room, so I asked my sister to take me to the hospital. As a student in the middle of my clinical pastoral education, I was accustomed to being in a hospital, but not as the patient.

I will never forget the moment the doctor shared the diagnosis with me: “You have a tumor in your brain.” It was during this time of uncertainty that God shared Joshua 1 with me. It became my source of comfort.

Joshua had big shoes to fill, since his great mentor, Moses, had passed away. All of Israel was looking to him to be the next great leader. The burden and anxiety weighed on him. God encouraged Joshua with these words: “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

In my time of need, this was the message God was sharing with me; that He would be with me in this battle and every battle to come. My “tumor” ended up being an aneurysm, and God healed me after surgery.

God, in our struggles, let Your Word be our encouragement. May we believe and recognize that You are with us in every battle we face. Amen.

Mariya Marton is the pastor of the Stillwater church in Ohio.