When I was trying to think of what to talk about, I thought about what I usually feel on Friday morning before I meet the family I get to be with for the weekend.
I usually feel anxious, but hopeful. Fearful, yet excited. A little overwhelmed. A lot of contradicting emotions. Pleasant and unpleasant emotions, if you will.
Some of you might be feeling those same feelings this morning. If you are, you are definitely not alone. You are not alone because there are others here who are in the same boat. But we are also not alone in these emotions because God is the one leading the charge as we prepare to love on these families this weekend. He goes before us to guide us.
Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
How comforting and freeing to know that God goes before us. Not only for this weekend, but over everything that we might worry about in our lives.
We can relinquish control over our anxieties and worries to Him because He cares and He is powerful enough to carry all of our burdens.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
When I think about God leading us this weekend, I immediately picture him leading the Israelites across the Red Sea in Exodus.
Exodus 13:21–22 says, “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
- God provided a source of guidance
- And that source never left
He promises the same to us!
God goes before us this weekend.
God knows and cares about all the details.
God knows and loves each and every person who will be here this weekend, including all of you.
God cares about the work that will be done here this weekend, and He goes before us to lead us.
So any anxious feelings you might be having about the upcoming weekend, just know that the Lord is prepared, He goes before you, and will guide you. All you have to do is follow Him.
Maddie Lee is an Inheritance of Hope volunteer. She shared this devotional with the St. Louis Legacy Retreat® team in July 2025.
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