Hey guys! So this week’s word is taken out of Joshua 1:9, which says—“have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
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God is addressing Joshua in this passage because he had just taken over from Moses after Moses’s death. Moses had led the children of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years, and it was time for them to possess the land God promised them all those years.
The phrase-‘be strong and courageous’ is something God had spoken to them before they left Egypt and while they were on their way. The Israelites had a lot of enemies who popped up from time to time, being that they were vulnerable people, their first response was often fear, so God had to remind them, time and time again that He was with them; they had no need to fear.
What does it mean to be strong and courageous?
As I pondered this passage of scripture, I was reminded of another one which says–‘the joy of the Lord is our strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10). Then that got me thinking, since God is always full of joy, it means that we should always have strength. The ability for me to be strong (and courageous) is directly proportional to God’s joy. This finding encouraged me; it reminded me that God is always for me, so I have no need to fear.
Here is another analogy: if you travel by air a lot, then you must have encountered times when the plane had to go through turbulence. I hate turbulence, I am usually fearful of them. So as it begins, I start freaking out. There was one time I was on a flight to North Carolina, and in my opinion, that was the worst turbulence I had ever experienced. The plane was shaking so badly, and I thought that was it! Then I looked around me, and the other passengers were calm.
Some were lost in their conversations, others were laughing at something they were watching on their tablets, while the rest slept peacefully like newborn babies. As I saw that they were not a bit worried as I was, I calmed down. I believed all was well and decided to continue reading the book I was engrossed in before I was rudely interrupted. I became strong and courageous, seeing that they were not even bothered by what was happening.
It’s the same way God wants us to tackle fear. He said in that scripture—the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. God wants us to look to Him, see that He is calm and joyful even in the most turbulent times, and draw strength from that.
How are you keeping sane this season? Leave your thoughts below, and also remember to like, share and subscribe, never to miss an update.
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About The Author: Evi Idoghor is a Christian, writer, and content creator on Letstalknationblog.com. She is a chemical engineering graduate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Consumed by her love for writing and desire to effect change, she launched her online platform––Let’s Talk Nation––to tap into her creativity and start meaningful conversations that would make a difference around the world.
Most of her writing has been influenced by her time spent in America, where she lived for about 11 years. Also, she lived in Nigeria and South Korea and currently loves traveling the world while learning about other fascinating cultures. You can find her on all social media platforms with @eviidoghor.
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