February 16, 2026
God Hasn’t Brought You This Far To Leave You
RUTH SCHWENK
Lee en español
“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.’” Deuteronomy 1:29-31 (NIV)
A few years ago, not long after my husband passed away, I remember sitting alone in my living room surrounded by quiet. The house that once felt familiar suddenly felt foreign. My heart ached with questions about the future: How will I raise my kids alone? How will I keep moving forward when everything has changed?
In those tender months, I opened my Bible often, sometimes with trembling hands. Again and again, God brought me to passages like today’s — reminders that He goes before us, fights for us, and carries us when we can’t carry ourselves.
Life is full of joy, but it’s also unpredictable. And sometimes it’s scary. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people learning to trust Him and step forward in faith even when fear lingered close behind.
That’s what was happening when Moses reminded the Israelites of God’s faithfulness in Deuteronomy 1:29-31. They stood on the edge of the land God had promised them, but fear made them hesitate. They wondered, What if God doesn’t come through this time?
I can relate to that. Maybe you can too. Even when I’ve seen God’s goodness with my own “very eyes” (Deuteronomy 1:30), fear still tries to convince me otherwise.
But God’s reminder to the ancient Israelites is the same one He offers us today: I am going before you. I will fight for you. You’ve seen Me do it before, and I’ll do it again.
Moses described God’s care this way: “The LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place” (Deuteronomy 1:31). Isn’t that beautiful? God had been carrying them the whole time. Every step, every detour, every delay — until they reached this place.
Fear often lives in the next place: the unknowns of next week, next year, or whatever lies ahead. But faith lives right here, in this place, where God has already proven Himself faithful.
When I look back, I can see how God has carried me through loss, waiting, and change I never expected. And if He’s carried me here, I can trust that He’ll carry me forward too.
Whatever you’re facing today, rest in knowing your God is near and good. The same God who brought you to this place will get you to the next, and He will never leave you.
Lord, thank You for carrying me in every season. When fear tries to take over, remind me that You go before me and fight for me. Help me rest in Your faithfulness right here, in this place. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
If your heart feels weary and your soul could use a deep breath, take a few quiet moments to rest in God’s presence. You’ll find gentle encouragement to do just that in Ruth Schwenk’s book of 365 prayers titled Jesus, Calm My Heart.
ENGAGE
For encouragement and hope every day, you can connect with Ruth on Instagram and download her free resource “10 Prayers to Pray at the Close of Every Day” here.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Isaiah 46:4, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (NIV).
Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (NIV).
When you look back over your life, how can you see ways God has carried you to this place?
What step of faith can you take today to trust that the God who brought you here will be faithful in what’s next? We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
© 2026 by Ruth Schwenk. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
