My daughter’s favorite Disney movie is The Lion King, but she absolutely hates the scene in the gorge when â€" spoiler alert â€" Simba’s father dies. This scene in its entirety is quite overwhelming. It begins with a lie; the evil uncle tells the young cub that his father is waiting for him, but it’s a trap. Simba is approached by a group of hyenas looking to make him their lunch. The small lion, in an attempt to defend himself, roars at them. However, his undeveloped, not to mention cute, little roar only makes the hyenas laugh. Simba tries his roar again only to bring more laughter and jest from his would-be predators. Then, gathering all his courage, he lets out his best roar. The sound that emerges is great and mighty! The enemies turn and run, not because of the roar, but because his daddy, the great lion king, had come up behind his son and Simba was safe in the shadow of his almighty father.

In the Old Testament, after the death of Moses, Joshua became the Israelites’ new leader and was tasked with the job of leading them to a new land. He had walked beside Moses and knew that these were not easy people to lead and feared the struggles that he was sure to encounter along the way. But in the first chapter of Joshua, we see the Lord lovingly preparing Joshua to take on this great task. In verse 5, the Lord assures him saying, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or abandon you.� He urges Joshua to be strong and courageous yet at the same time promising to never leave his side! I’m not sure about you, but I think I would feel extra-empowered knowing that I had the Almighty by my side! However, God also warns Joshua in verse 8 saying that he must not neglect God’s Words for only then would he prosper and succeed.

Our enemies have no power against us when we stand in the shadow of our Great God. He will fight every battle for us as long as we stay close to Him. He already fought, and won, the greatest battle of all; the battle that gave you eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ.  Even death could not defeat Him. The devil will feed us every lie, and set every trap to lure us into sin, but as long as we remain in God’s Word, He will give us the strength and courage to let out our best roar, knowing that our Father God is right beside us!

Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your promises. Without You I am small and weak, but in You I am strong. Today, I seek to be near you and I claim the promise that You are with me wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1.    Joshua 1:9 (CSB).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.