Crossing the Jordan/Opposition

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” (Numbers 13:1, 2 NKJV)

Moses and the children of Israel had finally come through the wilderness after"taking the scenic route", and there they camped poised on the banks of the Jordan. God had already declared and reaffirmed to His Chosen People that He was giving them the Promised Land. In spite of God's promise, all but 2 of the spies who were sent returned with negative reports. Fear, doubt, discouragement, and anxiety were sown, but among some there was still hope and faith...after all, God had promised, and they had seen and heard with their own eyes and ears too many miracles.
Moses had given Moses a message for each person and also for the entire company:

Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said. And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-8 NKJV)

Headed into this new year I understand what the children of Israel felt. Hope and faith are alive, but to be honest, discouragement and its unwelcome companions can sometimes take root.
These negative thoughts are tares sown by the enemy of our souls, the one who is the accuser and discourager.
It is his job to intimidate and immobilize us, and he does it exceedingly well.
But the Word of God tells us that God is love...Perfect love casts out all fear. He promised to go before us...and promises to be with us...even to the end of  age. We know the power of  God, trust trumps worry. Faith, hope, and courage overwhelm discouragement and anxiety...
Enemies vanquished...Land possessed... Promises fulfilled.