"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
God is with us. Wherever we go. Throughout Scripture, this is the assurance we are given in the face of fear. Isaiah 41:10 from the NIV says:
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Fear is a natural response. In the book of Joshua, God knew Joshua was going to feel fear. This is why He assured Joshua of His presence. His presence means help and strength. But God was not just telling Joshua to not be afraid. It wasn’t just the absence of fear God wanted for him. He was also calling him to be courageous! The definition of courage is : “not deterred by danger or pain; brave.” The Strong’s Concordance gives us further insight by describing courage as “vigorous, physically and mentally.” God knew Joshua was going to face adversity, that he was going to need to “not be deterred by danger or pain” in order to be victorious. Courage is something that needs to translate physically and mentally in our lives too. The beauty is, it CAN because God is the One fighting our battles! What adversity are you facing today? You will inevitably need to take physical steps as God leads you through it. Remember to be mentally courageous, too, and stay in a place of confidence as you trust Him to fight for you. He always wins.
Blessings,
Leah