OVERCOMING FEARS: BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“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)

MEDITATION:
Knowing what to do and doing it are two different things. We can
know what to do, but our fear can keep us from doing it. There are
times when fear prevents us from being obedient.

The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.
They were fearful of what the other nations would do to them, and
they were fearful of the Lord because of His anger against them
(because they had broken their covenant with Him and worshiped other gods).

They came to the brink of entering the land God promised them.
Their new leader, Joshua, stood before them. His frequent challenge
was, “Be strong and courageous.” That phrase is repeated four times
in chapter 1, and expressed in slightly different terms in other verses.

Why did he feel the need to encourage them to be strong and courageous?
Because what they saw as impossible, kept them from doing what God
wanted. Due to the time of the year, a great number of people with their
possessions were looking at crossing a flooded river that was at least a mile
wide.

The spies brought back an encouraging report and the people prepared
to move out. It was time to move; they knew what they were to do, and
now they were to do it! “Be strong and courageous” was put to the test
when they stepped into that dangerous river.

But they obeyed and God blessed them by stopping the flow of the river
and providing them with a dry path to cross over to the other side.
    “Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon
     as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their
     feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped
     flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town
     called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing
     down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely
     cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who
     carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of
     the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until
     the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
     (Joshua 3:15-17)

ACTION:
There will be times in our life when our courage to obey will be tested.
During those times, we need to be prepared to overcome our fears. God
is faithful and will bless those who are obedient, even when the river
seems too wide. Ask the Lord to give you courage to obey Him today,
and every day. Ask Him for strength and encouragement, even when
obedience seems like crossing a wide and rushing river.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I pray that You will give me
courage to obey You in all circumstances. Remind
me that You are in control and that when I cross
the rivers of discouragement and despair, I will be
able to enjoy the blessings on the other side. Thank
You for being my Encourager, Protector, and Guide!”

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