“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
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41
Devotional
When God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, it wasn’t at a moment of triumph — it was at a moment of transition. Moses was gone. The wilderness years were behind them. The Promised Land was ahead — but so were battles.
Joshua likely felt the weight of responsibility pressing on him. The expectations. The uncertainty. The fear of whether he was enough for what God was asking. And into that pressure, God didn’t give him a five-step plan. He gave him a promise: "I will be with you."
Courage in Scripture is not the absence of fear. It is the decision to move forward anchored in God’s presence. Most of us are not leading armies — but we are leading something.
WE ARE LEADING...
Our homes.
Our children.
Our calendars.
Our responses.
Our hearts.
And sometimes that leadership feels invisible. It feels like choosing gentleness when you are exhausted. Like praying when you’d rather worry. Like setting the tone of peace in your home when everything feels rushed and loud. It feels like holding back a sharp word.
Like trusting God with finances, schedules, health, and unanswered prayers. Like getting up again tomorrow and trying again.
That is quiet courage.
The world defines strength as being in control. But biblical strength is dependence. Joshua’s courage did not come from his military strategy. It came from obedience and trust. God wasn’t asking Joshua to feel brave. He was asking him to be faithful. And He asks the same of us. You may not feel like a leader today. You may feel behind, stretched thin, or unsure if your small choices even matter. But heaven sees what is done in faith.
Every prayer whispered over your children. Every moment you choose grace over frustration. Every time you surrender your plans and say, “Lord, guide me.” That is leadership in the Kingdom of God. And here is the teaching we cannot miss:
The strength you need for today is not something you manufacture. It flows from knowing you are not walking alone.
"The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
You don’t have to be fearless to be courageous. You just have to be anchored. And when you are anchored in His presence, even your quietest faithfulness carries eternal weight.
A Prayer for Our Community
Lord, teach me to lead with courage rooted in You. When I feel overwhelmed or unseen, remind me that Your presence is my strength. Help me choose faithfulness over fear and trust over striving. Be with me in every small, unseen moment today. Amen.
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