We all know strong and courageous people in our lives. We admire them. We wish we could be like them. And yet, more often than not, we come to the conclusion that strength and courage will forever elude us. Oh well …

It’s entirely possible to believe in God and yet still feel weak, powerless and afraid. I did a search through the Bible using the software I have on my PC on the phrase “do not be afraid”. Would you like to know how many times it pops up? Sixty-five times.

That tells us something. Sometimes what’s going on in the inside is so different to what we allow people to see of us on the outside. And it doesn’t matter who you are, or how you appear to others, some days life is going to be tough.

When Moses died, his second-in-command, Joshua, had to take over the leadership role. A million of God’s people who’d been on a forty year journey through the wilderness. They’re about to cross the Jordan River and have to take the Promised Land, battle by battle.

Scary? You bet ya!! But this is what God said to him:

Joshua 1:9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

In fact in those first nine verses of that book, God tells Joshua not to be afraid three times, but instead to be strong and courageous.

But on what basis? When you have to lead your people into life-and-death situations, into battle after battle, attacking fortified cities, what basis does God give Joshua for this command to be strong and courageous?

… because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.