“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
—Hebrews 13:5
SCRIPTURE EXHORTS believers to cast their burdens upon the Lord, and to not be anxious about their earthly life. Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-33, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” As the redeemed of Jesus Christ, we must learn to humbly follow where the Lord leads and walk in confident trust knowing that His way is one of wisdom and everlasting love in Christ. If we could determine our own way through this world, we would always avoid the path of adversity, sorrow, and sickness. Yet, the Lord often leads His children through periods of darkness and distress to teach us the simple truth of our text, “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).
OUR TEXT is a wonderful pronouncement from our Savior that produces great comfort in the heart of every believer because it teaches us that Jesus is always with His people, in all places, and under all circumstances; He is ‘Immanuel, God with us.’ Jesus is with us to comfort us in the hour of sorrow, to enlighten us in the hour of darkness, to guide us in the hour of doubt, to deliver us in the time of conflict, and to strengthen us in the hour of death. Every believer must learn to rest upon this wondrous truth. Jesus was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace, and He was with Daniel in the lions’ den. Jesus was also with the Apostle John in his exile on the Island of Patmos, and He was with David when he went out to face the Philistine giant, Goliath. David’s confidence in the abiding presence of the Good Shepherd is seen in Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.”
SCRIPTURE ALSO teaches that our Lord was with the Apostle Paul and Silas when they were bound with stocks in the inner prison, and Jesus was with Joseph when he was cast into prison because of the lie of Potiphar’s wife. “Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39:20-21). Simply stated, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, Jesus Christ, is always, in all places and under all circumstances, with His people. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Are you passing through the furnace of affliction? Is your health failing? Is your faith weak? Do not be cast down … the furnace is only designed to burn the dross and work your eternal good and draw you nearer to Jesus and thus bring glory and praise to God our Savior! Be of good cheer, Christian, for Jesus has promised never to leave you or forsake you, “So we may boldly say, “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).
Tuesday Encouragement: January 6, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
