Transition seasons in life, like stepping into a new role, navigating a health diagnosis, or enduring a period of waiting, can drain our natural courage. We often feel more like anxious followers than the courageous leaders we are called to be.
In this devotional, we will unpack one of the Bible’s most direct commands about courage. This is not a distant ancient story. It is a present-day promise you can lean into today.
Verse of the Day
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
– Joshua 1:9
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version. For further study, comparing translations like the ESV (“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed…”) or NIV can provide additional insight.
The Command to Be Strong
God’s words to Joshua came at a critical moment, a time of transition, uncertainty, and great responsibility. Moses was gone, and Joshua now stood before a promise yet unfulfilled, a land yet unconquered, and a people yet unsettled.
Notice how God begins: “Have not I commanded thee?” This is not a gentle suggestion or a hopeful wish. It is a divine command. Strength and courage, in the economy of God, are not optional virtues for the believer.
They are obedient responses to His call. Our culture often tells us to “follow your heart,” but God tells Joshua, and He tells us, to command our hearts. To choose strength. To choose courage. Why? Because the foundation of that command is not our own ability, but His presence.
The Courage That Comes from Companionship
The command to be strong and courageous is directly tied to a promise: “for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Our courage is not meant to be mustered from within our own limited reserves. It flows from the unshakable reality of God’s presence.
You are not walking into your unknown future alone. You are not facing that daunting challenge, that grief, that new chapter, or that difficult conversation by yourself.
The Commander of Heaven’s Armies is with you. His presence turns the darkest valley into holy ground and the most intimidating giants into opportunities for His glory to be seen.
Reflect on This
Before we move to application, pause for a moment. Honest reflection is where truth moves from our heads to our hearts.
First, identify what is the primary source of fear or discouragement for you right now. Name it plainly. Is it a circumstance, a relationship, an internal worry, or a future unknown?
Next, hold that fear next to God’s promise in Joshua 1:9. Write down or speak aloud: “In this situation, Lord, You are with me.”
Finally, consider where you feel the biggest gap between your fear and His promise. That gap is the very space where God wants to meet you with His grace and build your courage, not by removing the challenge, but by assuring you of His unwavering presence within it.
Personal Application: Where Do You Need Courage Today?
The command to “be strong and courageous” wasn’t just for Joshua’s historical mission. It is for your mission, right where you are. God speaks this over your challenge, your own personal frontier that requires faith to step into.
That frontier might be:
- A difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding.
- A season of illness or recovery.
- A step of obedience in your work or relationships.
- The daily choice to trust when anxiety whispers.
- The courage to forgive a deep hurt.
In all of it, the command and the promise remain. Be strong. Be courageous. Do not be terrified or discouraged. He is with you.
The strength He calls you to is not the absence of fear, but the choice to trust His presence more than you trust your fears. The courage He commands is a settled confidence that the One who goes before you is also walking beside you.
A Prayer for Strength and Courage
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today with a heart that seeks Your strength and guidance.
As I face the challenges and unknown paths before me, my natural courage feels small. I bring my specific fears to You now, the worries about the future, the weight of responsibilities, and the situations where I feel inadequate.
Right now, in obedience to Your word, I choose to be strong and of good courage. I lay down my fear and discouragement at Your feet. Forgive me for the times I have tried to face these things alone, relying on my own fragile strength.
Thank You for Your promise that changes everything: You are with me. Wherever I go, You are there. Your presence is my unshakable foundation, my shield, and my true confidence.
Help me to walk today in the light of Your companionship, not in the shadow of my circumstances. Let my heart be steady, not because I am brave, but because You are faithful. Plant Your courage deep within me. Give me the strength to take the next step, to speak the needed word, and to trust Your unseen hand.
I go into this day leaning entirely on Your presence.
In the mighty name of Jesus .
Amen.
Going Deeper
If this exploration of Joshua 1:9 resonated with you, consider reading the full context in Joshua Chapter 1. Notice how God repeats this command to “be strong and courageous” three times in just a few verses, in Joshua 1:6, 1:7, and 1:9.
This beautiful emphasis reveals His understanding of our forgetful and fearful hearts, and it reinforces that courage is a daily choice, not a one-time attainment.
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