Be Strong and Courageous (Joshua 1:5b-9)
The people of Israel were standing at a new threshold. Moses had died. Joshua was about to lead people into a future filled with promise — and danger.
As a pastor, I know the fears that creep into our churches.
Fear of decline. Fear of conflict. Fear of not having enough—enough money,
enough volunteers, enough energy. We stand at our own Jordan Rivers, looking at
a future we can’t control, and we feel like Joshua must have felt: like a
novice, standing on holy ground, unsure of our next step.
Those words are not just for ancient Israelites. They are
for you and me when life moves us to new places: a new job, a move, the grief
that won’t end, a ministry transition, or a season of doubt. God’s promise is
not a magic talisman that removes fear, but it is a promise that steadies the
heart: God goes with us, even when the path is hard.
Three things to hold on to from this passage
1. God’s
presence precedes and follows us
God reminds Joshua that the same presence that went with Moses will go with
him. The promise is relational: God will not fail or forsake. This is the heart
of our faith — God’s faithful presence. God’s prevenient grace goes before us;
God’s sustaining grace walks beside us. You are not traveling alone.
2. Courage
is an obedient practice, not merely a feeling
The command to “be strong and courageous” is repeated three times. Courage here
is not absence of fear but faithful action in the presence of God. The text
links courage to obedience: meditate on God’s law, keep close to God’s ways, do
not turn right or left. Courage grows as we orient our lives to Christ’s way
and God’s word.
3. Spiritual
formation matters for our success
The passage calls Joshua to keep the book of the law always on his lips,
meditating on it day and night. Spiritual practices — reading Scripture,
prayer, worship, honest confession, and service — form our hearts to align with
God. Success in God’s economy is not merely outward gain but faithfulness to
God’s commands and care for God’s people.
Joshua’s story reminds us that God’s presence is not just a
comfort—it is a calling. God invites us to step forward, to trust, to obey, and
to believe that he is already ahead of us preparing the way.
Questions for reflection and action
1. Where
in my life am I standing at a threshold or facing a new challenge that calls
for courage?
2. What
spiritual practices help me remember God’s presence? Which practice will I try
this week to help me be more faithful and courageous?
3. When
fear or discouragement comes, what is one concrete step I can take to name the
fear and act in obedience anyway?
4. Who
in my life needs a reminder that God is with them? How can I be an instrument
of encouragement?
Simple practical steps for the week
- Begin
each day this week with a short prayer: “Lord, be with me; help me be
strong and courageous.” Keep it brief and intentional.
- Choose
one verse from Scripture to memorize or carry with you (for example,
Joshua 1:9). Repeat it when anxiety rises.
- Spend
10 minutes three times this week reading Scripture slowly and asking God
how it shapes one small decision you face.
Let us pray...
Gracious God, thank you for the promise that you are with us and will not fail
us. When we stand at new thresholds and feel the weight of fear, remind us of
your steady presence. Teach us to be strong and courageous by your Spirit.
Shape us through prayer and your Word so that our lives honor you and serve
others. Help us to take small, faithful steps when courage is hard, and to
encourage one another along the way. In the name of Christ, our companion and
guide, Amen.
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