Be strong and courageous

No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall lead this people to possess the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. ~ Joshua 1:5-6

Who is the most courageous person you've ever known? Take a minute...

What made them courageous? Were they always courageous? Or did they find themselves in a situation where courage was the only option?

They say that courage is being scared or afraid and doing what needs to be done anyway. Standing up to our fear. Something probably Joshua felt. It had to be imposing to imagine taking the place of Moses and leading the Hebrew refugees into a new land occupied by a people who already lived there.

To be courageous is to remember those words from God "I will not fail or forsake you" in the midst of fear. I admit I don't always do that. As someone who's stuggled with anxiety, those are words I need to tell myself over and over again.

God remains with us even in the moments when fear takes hold or when failure seems inevitable.

I will not fail or forsake you is a promise. It's a promise that we are never alone even when it feels like everyone and everything has abandoned us.

Be strong and courageous is tied up with that promise. That thing you are afraid to do? Do it anyway. You aren't alone and when you lean into courage, you will go places that you never could have imagined.

When I am afraid, give me courage. When I feel weak, give me strength. When I feel alone, remind me that you are with me always. Amen