Be strong

Be strong…and of a good courage… 

Have you ever thought about those words? 

Be not afraid…Neither be thou dismayed… 

What about those? 

What do they mean? And what do they mean for you? 

The world we live in is a disaster. Wars, famine, political and social unrest, pandemics, and riots. It’s crazy just how much we deal with. But can we honestly say, ‘ Oh how the world has changed”? Think of life with Moses- the oppression his nation had in Egypt. Think of life with Noah- the unbelief and the filthy acts of sin that ultimately led to the flooding of the world. Think of the life with Christ- the healing of many with sicknesses but also the riots that led to his crucifixion. Has the world changed? Or are we just now recognizing it on a more personal level? 

Back to the words mentioned above. These come from Joshua 1:9. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” 

Notice how it doesn’t say “be strong…unless the world is chaotic” or “don’t be afraid…unless there’s a pandemic”. Those are major commands that we see repeated many times throughout scripture. But this verse is interesting. It gives a reason as to why those commands are listed. God does not instruct us to do the impossible. If He commands it, He will give us a way to do it. Philippians 2:13 says that it is God who works in us to do as He desires. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says if God calls you He will do it. This verse commands us to be strong, to not be afraid. Why? “For the Lord, thy God is with thee” and not just that, but he is with you “whithersoever thou goest”. 

I’ve heard it said, “It is safer in a land of cannibals in God’s will than it is in my own home out of God’s will”. God is our Protector and Defender. He is our Friend and our Savior. He is our Leader and our King. 

Have you ever looked at the names of God? I once had a study that went through God’s names, what they meant and why they were chosen. Two of my favorite names for God were Adonai “My Lord” and El’ Shaddai “Almighty God.” Who is God to you? 

If God is nothing more than a whisper in the wind, a shadow of thought as you face a fear, or a word you say when you’re mad, then by all means…be afraid, be dismayed. But if God is your everything? If He truly is the One you trust and lean on and cry out to, the One you rely on to provide and care for you, then you have nothing to be afraid of… “For the Lord thy God is with you whithersoever thou goest”.

Who is God to you? What have you been tempted to fear? Id love to hear from you! Comment on the post or send a direct message. Let me know how I can pray for you!