01-03
Joshua 1:9
A word from The General
There are moments in life when fear quietly works its way into our thoughts. Sometimes it comes through uncertainty. Sometimes through loss, disappointment, bad news, or simply not knowing what lies ahead.
Joshua 1:9 reminds me that courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward even while fear is trying to hold us back.
God did not tell Joshua that life would be easy. He did not promise there would be no battles. Instead, He gave Joshua something far greater:
His presence.
That same promise still speaks to us today.
No matter what road we are walking, God goes before us. Even in moments when we feel weak, uncertain, or overwhelmed, we are never walking alone.
When we place our trust in Him, fear begins to lose its grip.
-The General
Scripture
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid…
Joshua 1:9
Background
Joshua 1:9 takes place during a major transition in Israel’s history. Moses, the great leader who brought Israel out of Egypt, had died. Joshua was chosen to lead God’s people into the Promised Land.
This was not a small task.
Joshua faced:
uncertainty
responsibility
enemies
pressure
fear of failure
God knew Joshua would need strength beyond himself. Three times in the opening chapter, God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. But the command was not based on Joshua’s abilities. It was based on God’s presence.
“For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
That was the foundation of Joshua’s courage.
Meaning of “Be Strong and Courageous”
This verse does not teach self-confidence alone.
It teaches:
God-confidence
Faith
Trust
Perseverance
Biblical courage is not pretending fear does not exist.
It is trusting God enough to continue forward despite fear.
When God told Joshua to “be strong and courageous,” He was not speaking to a man who had never experienced uncertainty. Joshua was stepping into enormous responsibility after the death of Moses. Battles lay ahead. The future was uncertain. God knew Joshua would wrestle with fear at times, just as we often do.
Yet notice something important throughout Scripture:
Again and again, God tells His people not to fear.
Why?
Because God understands the human heart.
He knows how quickly fear can take hold of our thoughts. He knows how discouragement can slowly drain our strength and cloud our faith.
That is why God repeatedly reminds His people of one powerful truth:
He is with them.
Isaiah 41:10 reminds us of this promise beautifully:
“So do not fear, for I am with you...”
— Isaiah 41:10
God does not simply command courage while standing far off in the distance. He walks with His people through uncertainty, hardship, fear, and battle.
David understood this deeply throughout his life. There were times when David fled from enemies, hid in caves, grieved betrayal, and faced overwhelming circumstances. Yet even during those difficult seasons, David continually returned to trusting God’s presence.
One of the most comforting reminders of this is found in Psalm 27:1:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
— Psalm 27:1
David’s confidence was not rooted in his own strength. It was rooted in the understanding that God was with him.
That same promise remains true for us today.
The verse also contains two important commands:
Do not be afraid.
Fear often paralyzes us before we even begin.
Do not be discouraged.
Discouragement drains strength slowly over time.
God addresses both because He understands the struggles of the human heart.
Encouragement for Today
There may be seasons when the future feels uncertain.
You may feel:
Overwhelmed
Anxious
Discouraged
Tired of Fighting battles
Joshua 1:9 reminds us that God’s presence does not leave us in difficult seasons.
He walks with us through them.
Sometimes courage is loud.
Sometimes courage is simply getting up one more day and continuing forward.
And sometimes courage is quietly trusting that God is still working, even when we cannot yet see the outcome.
Wherever you are today, remember this:
You are not walking alone.
Be encouraged today.
—In God We Trust—
