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February 16, 2026<\/span><\/p>\n God Hasn\u2019t Brought You This Far To Leave You<\/strong><\/span> Lee en espa\u00f1ol<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThen I said to you, \u2018Do 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.\u2019\u201d Deuteronomy 1:29-31 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n 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?<\/em><\/p>\n In those tender months, I opened my Bible often, sometimes with trembling hands. Again and again, God brought me to passages like today\u2019s \u2014 reminders that He goes before us, fights for us, and carries us when we can\u2019t carry ourselves.<\/p>\n Life is full of joy, but it\u2019s also unpredictable. And sometimes it\u2019s scary. Throughout Scripture, we see God\u2019s people learning to trust Him and step forward in faith even when fear lingered close behind.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what was happening when Moses reminded the Israelites of God\u2019s 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\u2019t come through this time?<\/em><\/p>\n I can relate to that. Maybe you can too. Even when I\u2019ve seen God\u2019s goodness with my own \u201cvery eyes\u201d<\/em> (Deuteronomy 1:30), fear still tries to convince me otherwise.<\/p>\n But God\u2019s reminder to the ancient Israelites is the same one He offers us today: I am going before you. I will fight for you. You\u2019ve seen Me do it before, and I\u2019ll do it again.<\/em><\/p>\n Moses described God\u2019s care this way: \u201cThe LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place\u201d<\/em> (Deuteronomy 1:31). Isn\u2019t that beautiful? God had been carrying them the whole time. Every step, every detour, every delay \u2014 until they reached this place.<\/em><\/p>\n 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,<\/em> where God has already proven Himself faithful.<\/p>\n When I look back, I can see how God has carried me through loss, waiting, and change I never expected. And if He\u2019s carried me here, I can trust that He\u2019ll carry me forward too.<\/p>\n Whatever you\u2019re facing today, rest in knowing your God is near and good. The same God who brought you to this place<\/em> will get you to the next, and He will never leave you.<\/p>\n 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\u2019 Name, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n If your heart feels weary and your soul could use a deep breath, take a few quiet moments to rest in God\u2019s presence. You\u2019ll find gentle encouragement to do just that in Ruth Schwenk\u2019s book of 365 prayers titled Jesus, Calm My Heart<\/em>.<\/p>\n For encouragement and hope every day, you can connect with Ruth on Instagram and download her free resource \u201c10 Prayers to Pray at the Close of Every Day\u201d here.<\/p>\n Isaiah 46:4, \u201cEven 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\u201d (NIV).<\/p>\n Psalm 27:1, \u201cThe LORD is my light and my salvation\u2014whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life\u2014of whom shall I be afraid?\u201d (NIV).<\/p>\n When you look back over your life, how can you see ways God has carried you to this place<\/em>?<\/p>\n What step of faith can you take today to trust that the God who brought you here will be faithful in what\u2019s next? We\u2019d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 by Ruth Schwenk. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n Proverbs 31 Ministries
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