Listen

Then Moses said these words to all Israel, telling them:

I’m 120 years old today. I can’t move around well anymore. Plus, the Lord told me “You won’t cross the Jordan River.” But the Lord your God, he’s the one who will cross over before you!

Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies, because the Lord your God is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and he won’t abandon you.

Then Moses called Joshua and, with all Israel watching, said to him: “Be strong and fearless because you are the one who will lead this people to the land the Lord swore to their ancestors to give to them; you are the one who will divide up the land for them. But the Lord is the one who is marching before you! He is the one who will be with you! He won’t let you down. He won’t abandon you. So don’t be afraid or scared!”

Deuteronomy 31:1-3a, 6-8

Think

After years and years of wandering through the same old wilderness, waiting to get to the Promised Land, the Israelites were about to experience something new — they were about to have a new leader. Moses, their trusty leader, was growing old — 120 years old, in fact! It was time for something new and different.

I imagine the Israelites were nervous about having a new leader. Would they still get to go to the Promised Land, or would they be stuck in the wilderness forever? What was going to happen? Sensing their anxiousness, Moses told them to be strong, remembering that God is with them and won’t let them down.

When things are looking new and different, we can trust that God is going with us. When we go to a new school, new classrooms, have new teachers, and have to make new friends, we can have courage knowing that God is with us. We can take deep breaths, remembering that God won’t let us down and won’t abandon us.

Erin Spengeman Hutchison

Question to Ponder:

What are you feeling nervous about this school year, and how do you think God can help?

Pray

God, it’s a new school year and there are things I’m excited about, but there are also things I’m wondering about.

Remind me that, because you are with me, I can be courageous.

Amen.

Go

What did you decide to put in your backpack?

Imagine you’re packing what you need and zipping up your backpack.

As you grab your backpack and go, remember that God is going with you, too.