“Have I not commanded you? 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 (NIV)
The scriptures don’t tell us what Joshua thought when God told him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Leading God’s people was a big deal. I can’t help but wonder if he were afraid of the obstacles he would face? Did he worry about failing? Did he wonder if he was the right man for such an important job?
We may never know whether these thoughts crossed Joshua’s mind or not. What we do know, is that God gave him the reassurance he needed before he began his journey. God instructed Joshua to obey His word and not turn from it. He promised that He would never leave him or forsake him. He told him not to be afraid or discouraged. And He commanded him to be bold and courageous. (Joshua 1:5-9)
God knew precisely what Joshua and the Israelites would have to face on the road ahead. He saw every obstacle; there would be rivers to cross, lands to conquer, and battles to win. God’s words gave Joshua the strength and courage he needed to complete his task. And with God by his side, he eventually led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Don’t worry; God has already worked out all of the details. –Tweet this!
The words God spoke to Joshua are for us too. When God asks us to do something for him that seems impossible, we can take comfort in knowing He will be with us. We don’t have to worry about failing. We don’t have to be anxious about the obstacles that lie ahead. We don’t have to wonder if we are good enough to complete the tasks before us. All we need to do is put our trust in Him. He’s already worked out all of the details.
Let’s Pray:
Lord, we praise you for the promises in your word. We thank you that wherever we go you are always with us. Help us to boldly leave the details to you and courageously accept any task you put before us. In Jesus’ name, we pray Amen!
Digging deeper:
Let’s be honest, sometimes the things God asks us to do are hard. Really hard. Earlier this week I shared a little bit about my journey on the #BeBoldGirl series. Read my story here.
Thank you for following along today. I hope you were encouraged to be bold and courageous. ~Kelly
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Beautiful insight. Always a person of faith, I’m now empty and void of any…well I don’t want to say faith, but I don’t know what else to say. I am so numb & my mind is dull. I have no strength remaining. The last 5 years I’ve lost my dearest friend when my sister passed away. I cared for her thru the end of a devastating battle with cancer. My husband and 2nd sister were diagnosed with cancer at the same time, and then I lost my son also. I have no one, you really do find out who your friends are. I have been battling depression and anxiety. I do pray. It feels like I am talking to myself. I hate feeling this way. My sister was my best friend. I always turned to her, but she has been taken away. She is home. Her faith was amazing and her testimony remains. A legacy of faith in a Holy and loving God who she praised till the very end. Nothing seems to help me. Thank you for your timely post. God bless.
Sissy, I am so sorry for your loss of so many loved ones in such a short time. My heart goes out to you. When you feel alone, remember that God is always right beside you. I know it’s hard to believe that sometimes, but He really is there with you. I am praying for God to fill you with His love and replenish you with a strength that only He can give. When I feel like I don’t have the strength to go on I like to mediate on Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I hope this verse brings you comfort. Remember; you are loved Sissy!
I like to believe I only hear the Master’s voice and heed on his call. The truth is I still have freewill and my own agenda and Life gets in the way. We all have our own tasks to complete each day. I’m a person who has always been tightly wound and when I can relax and rely wholly on God about anything, my whole life flows better. I lost my second husband almost three years ago and although we had many, many challenges due to each of us having health issues, it’s difficult having to make all the decisions alone again. Isaiah 54:5 says that your Maker is your husband and I think most of us don’t think about that unless we are single for a long time as a young lady or divorced or widowed. I was divorced for seven years before I remarried and got back into church (my first husband tried to keep me out of church actually) and never found that scripture and just recently had a widowed pastor lead a group of widows to that scripture at a dinner. Not having dwelled on that scripture for a long time, it is very foreign to me. So as my life has drastically changed over the last 3 years as of a household of two, to one, to right now to four (my 39 year old son, his 10 year old son, his almost 3 year old daughter, and me), it’s difficult to remember that God has been equipping me for this moment all the time. I have been very ill and almost died several times, and I think he knew this time was coming. I have found some wonderful friends in the last two years that have touched my life in ways I never imagined. I never had a sister and now I think I know the love of several sisters. I have a situation which might require me to make a 1000 mi trip and one said she would go with me – she volunteered. God asks and we can always say NO and if we do say no, then our lives will not run as smoothly as if we had said yes for we are outside the will of God. Every day I pray that I hear the voice of God and say YES YES YES. I pray that I do His will and that my spirit not be broken for He made me in His image. I pray to be a vessel through which He may flow. My son professes not to believe in God yet He allows me to take His children to church, so I see that God is using me, so I pray that I, the children, or whomever God chooses will be the vessel to bring Him back to Christ. Thank you for the post. It sure made me think as you can see. God’s richest blessings on you.
Hi Susan. Thank you so much for sharing some of your story with me. You are right- God has been preparing you for such a time as this! Praise Jesus that your son allows you to take your grand-babies to church! God is definitely using you to pour into them and your son. I will be keeping you and you family in my prayers.
Thanks for the beautiful reminder that God does indeed have the details. Today is one of those mornings…I rarely feel “alone” but I struggled a bit with it today and I’m so thankful for God’s perfect ways. I found you on the “raralinkup and I’m glad I did!
God good in all his ways isn’t He? Thanks for stopping by Lorraine!
Thank you Kelly! I agree with you. My problem is the patience when I say yes to God. I want to see the accomplishments right away but growth is happening when I let go and let God. So hard to do!
Keep writing!
Julie
Hello Julie! I know how you feel. I’m result oriented so I want to see the accomplishments right away too. Thanks for stopping by and for the encouragement!
This article is awesome! I love Joshua.” Strong and courageous!” Happy I found your site on a link up. will be back for more = )
I love Joshua too! It’s to meet you Carmen, thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Thank you for this devotion Kelly! I so agree, it is hard sometimes to do what God asks you to do!