Do you like travelling? Well, I do…going to places where I have never been before, seeing all the sights, meeting new people, different cultures, different languages and so on…Yes, I think I could say that I love travelling very much. Yet…there are travels that I do not look forward to at all. These are the trips with an uncertain end, moving places and leaving loved ones behind…And, as I am graduating in a few weeks time, one of these trips is lying very close ahead. Not knowing exactly what is going to happen when moving to a different place can be quite daunting, I am sure you are / have been in a similar situation.

There are plenty of examples of travels in Scripture, the most famous example (and probably also the longest trip) being the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Over 40 years, how often people must have asked: “Are we nearly there yet?”? Yet, God did not send His people through the desert for 40 years for nothing! The final verses of the book of Exodus state this clearly: “In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.” (Exodus 40:36-38) God was with them all along, guiding them day and night!

So often, we can feel that God sends us on journeys, and because we do not see a purpose in the trip, we can very easily blame God for our disorientation, especially when we face difficulties. And in all this, there are amazing promises in Scripture concerning this, so that we can honestly say “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) This is also beautifully illustrated in the story of the footprints in the sand. Let us live, therefore, in the knowledge that that HE knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Through the difficulties of life, He is right there with us and carries us through. In that knowledge: Have a safe trip!

Sven Ensminger

Day 1

Joshua 1:1-9

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country— to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Father, thank you for the promise that you will be with us wherever we go. Yet, so often, it is hard to believe that You are with us, especially in difficulties and when we doubt. Father, forgive us our unbelief and increase our trust in You, so that we might look to the witness of Your people over the past centuries and be encouraged and strengthened by it. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, I pray, Amen.

Day 2

Zephaniah 3:14-20

“Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” “The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you. At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered. I will give them praise and honour in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD.

Father, thank you for the amazing plans that you have for every single one of us. Strengthen us, so that we can trust in You and live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Help us to live day-by-day by faith and not by sight, and also in the knowledge that Your Son might return in all His glory every single minute. In the knowledge that this promise is faithful and true, I wait for You, O God. Amen.

Day 3

Acts 20:22-24

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Father, so often we do not know what You have prepared for us in our daily walk with You, and so many things are beyond our influence. Yet, Father, help us not to lose sight for the bigger picture and enable us to trust more and more that You are in control and that all that You have prepared for us is for our good. Help us in our daily witness to Your word and enable us by Your Holy Spirit to bring glory to Your name. In Your Son’s name, I pray, Amen.

Day 4

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Lord Jesus, I thank you for the amazing truth of these verses, thank you for coming into this world to reconcile us with God and give us rest. Lord, thank You for lifting the burden of being alienated from You through sin by dying for us and carrying our burden. Lord, I pray that I might live day-by-day in knowledge and thankfulness for all that You have done for every single one of us. Be near to us and help us to trust in You and Your promises more and more. In Your name, Amen.

Day 5

Habakkuk 3:17-19

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.”

Father, so often are the circumstances that I am in not easy and I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. Therefore, I pray that you might help me to rejoice in you and be joyful, just like Your servant Habakkuk. Father, help me to trust in You as the source of my strength, so that I can walk in the ways of life that You have prepared for me, trusting that You will be right here by my side. I pray this for Your name’s sake, Amen.