WHERE CAN I FIND COURAGE?

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Courage comes from spending time in God’s Word. In Joshua 1, God is speaking to Joshua, the new Israelite leader. In the first nine verses alone, God directs Joshua to “be strong and courageous” three times. Between those commands, God also reminds Joshua to study and meditate on the Word continually so he can obey it and prosper in all he does (Joshua 1:1–9).

It’s no coincidence that God’s straight-shooting pep talk with Joshua centres around courage and spending time in His Word—because the two are connected. After all, how many people today would live different lives if they dared to confront the issues facing them? Unfortunately, most people don’t exercise courage. That’s why God repeatedly ordered Joshua: “Be courageous!” In other words, within every believer is the ability to be courageous.

God knows time spent in His Word will fuel your spirit with the courage to get up and do what you couldn’t before. Maybe it’s the nerve to take a risk rather than give in to the same thing every day. Perhaps it’s the grit to stand against the public opinion of friends when you know what they’re advocating for is wrong.

God’s instructions to Joshua hold true for believers today too. The more you stay plugged into His Word, the more you’ll know who you are and choose the courage within you to push forward, overcome obstacles and succeed in all you do.