Be Strong

We must strive to always be strong. Life can be discouraging and difficult at times. So Joshua 1:6 shouts to every believer, "Be strong and courageous!..." Because life calls upon us to have courage, shun fear and push it away. Trust always in the Lord, and He will see us through.

It takes courage to do the right thing.  It takes courage to care for an aging parent.  It takes courage to provide needed correction for a rebellious teen or employee.  It takes courage to face bullying.  It takes courage to go against the crowd and the popular opinion.  It takes courage to stand up and be strong when it seems no one else cares to do so.  It takes courage to sacrifice, to cling to faith in the midst of trial, and to be strong when you feel completely weak.

But the Lord presents to you and me a question-"Have I not commanded you, be strong and of good courage? Be not afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability and strength not to give in when you feel vulnerable and afraid.  Courage matters, but it requires practice to develop.  It goes hand in hand with faith. And faith is built by hearing, reading, studying and learning the Word. It is the work of God within us that gives us strength. Actually the Bible teaches, "The joy of the Lord is my strength."

Courage and faith rise together like a thermometer in the face of hot temperatures. They stand together and make us strong and unwavering in the midst of trouble and heartache. Maybe you have faced some difficult circumstances. Perhaps you have been placed between a rock and a hard place. This is what you should do:

Pull yourself up.  Get up and get moving.  There is much work to accomplish to God and He has placed you on point to look fear in the face and be courageous. No more walking around with your nose down, but stand tall and walk the walk of faith and courage day by day.