Friday, March 11

Being strong and courageous is not easy 

“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be terrified or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9 

I don’t know about you, but there are days where I find my-self doubting the very thing that I cling to in times of pain, hurt, frustration, and loss. I doubt my own abilities to han-dle the many things that seem to be thrown my way. Will I have the words? Will I know enough? Am I good enough?

I find hope in this verse and at the same time, much frustra-tion. Being strong and courageous is not an easy thing to do, especially when I’m angry, hurting or scared. Yet, in that time we need to remember that we are not being told that we must be strong, courageous, not terrified or discouraged on our own. We have the love, grace and hope of Jesus Christ that surpasses all understanding, guiding us through these moments of unknown, of pain, or of utter despair.

I love this verse because it reminds me that I am able to be a strong, faithful person, not because of my own abilities or decisions, but because of who Jesus is and what he did on the cross. With Christ, I know that He will provide the words, knowledge and strength to carry on. Wherever you go, remember that Christ is with you, no matter how alone you feel, He is there.

Heavenly father, thank you for walking with us, holding us and comforting us in the deepest and darkest places of our lives. Thank you for giving us the strength, courage and hope that we need to make it through the day. We give you all the praise and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Alex Becker