Confident Courage // Joshua 1:9

Today’s verse comes right after the death of Moses. God spoke to Joshua and told him several times to be strong and courageous as he took over leadership for the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land. The entire verse reads, “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.” We see that God goes on to connect courage with encouragement. This is beautiful, because the Bible links encouragement with confidence, meaning discouragement comes from a lack of confidence. This challenges us to consider the things in which we place our confidence yet let us down. If our confidence is in God, though, we can remain steadfast regardless of what comes, giving us the courage to face the future unafraid. So, if you find your courage waning, take a moment to consider where you’ve placed your confidence. That can help you tackle any adversity that comes your way, because you never face it alone since God promised to be with you wherever you go. Praise the Lord!