Compassion
Words of Faith 8-5-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 9
[19] "Because of your great compassion, you did not abandon them in the desert. By day, the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. [20] You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. [21] For forty years, you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet become swollen.

The Jerusalem worship leaders had celebrated the chosen-ness of God’s people, their liberty through the Exodus, their identity through the Law and the Sabbath, God's unique provision, and their special destiny in the Land of Promise. They had celebrated that God’s love abounded even when the people forgot who they were and whose they were.

But now, here is a profound truth. “Because of the great compassion of God, He did not abandon them in the desert. He did not cease to guide them. He did not withhold manna or water. God never left them forsaken, even when they deserved to be left. For forty years, God watched over this chosen people and made sure that they had everything they needed. Their clothing lasted without wearing out. And even with all that walking in the desert, their feet did not become swollen.”No matter what they encountered, God did not leave them.

It is the most profound of all promises. He will not leave you or forsake you. “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" (Deuteronomy 31:8). God is faithful. Even when we are unfaithful, He is faithful.

The call of God is for us to walk in His strength. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). But when we are afraid, he is still there with us. The Lord made this promise to Joshua:“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 (Joshua 1:5).

We are not even to worry over the provision of our lives. “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). So “keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’" (Hebrews 13:5).

Have you been feeling abandoned by God? It is a lie. Just that simple. He will never do that. Have you felt forsaken by the Lord? It is not true. He won’t ever do that. These are lies from our enemy who wants to pry us away from a place of faithfulness and trust. Stand on these words. Because of His great compassion, He will not abandon you in the desert. He will guide by day and night. He will give you the good Spirit— the Holy Spirit— to instruct you in all things. He will provide for your daily living needs. Believe it.

Father God, forgive me for my doubting. Forgive my forgetting. I believe; help me in my unbelief. I know that Your Word is true. You will never leave me or forsake me. In this I stand. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.