Strength and Courage

Joshua 1:6-9

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  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.

To boil it down:

Be strong and courageous- Lead.

Be strong and courageous- Stay focused.

Be strong and courageous- Do what is written in God’s word.

Be strong and courageous- Know that God is with us.

If you reverse the order of the above sentences, you could read the passage to say that to lead, to stay focused, to act in accordance with God’s word and to know that God is with us requires strength and courage.

Strength and courage aren’t always what they seem.  Sometimes it takes incredible strength to be weak.  Sometimes it takes courage to acknowledge discouragement, fears and failings.  Courage has been said to be not the absence of fear, but choosing to not let fear and discouragement define our actions or identity.

In my work at Redeemer I have the sacred privilege of walking with people who wrestle these verses down in powerful ways, choosing against adversity to hang onto them.  I also work with people that guide me back to these verses whenever I lean away from them.  It is God’s gift of the spirit to send us strength and courage when we need it, sometimes in surprising ways.  May we open to God’s many gifts. 

Each one of us has accepted the role of being here at Redeemer with all the burdens and joys that that includes.  Each one of us has a calling to contribute a unique gift to the community here and beyond.  Let not one of us sidestep that.  Let none of us fear that we don’t have something to offer- or if we do fear it, remember not to let that define us.  God knows our fears.  God knows what holds us back from the abundant life that is offered to us in faith.  By God’s grace, even today let us work together in strength and courage to lead, to stay focused, to do what is written in God’s word and to grow in the knowledge that God is with us, awakening to the reality that it is God who holds all things together.

Let us challenge each other with these verses from Joshua, pray them for each other this week and see how God will answer our prayers.