Be Strong and Courageous
As I reflect on the things that have been happening in our world lately, fear starts to well up inside of me. I think about what today’s date, 9/11 represents. Will there be another attack on the United States? I think a lot of us are thinking about what happened yesterday in Utah. An assassination of a man of God sharing the gospel on a college campus.
Fear is something we all wrestle with—whether it’s the uncertainty of the future, challenges at work or school, health struggles, or situations beyond our control. In these moments, fear whispers that we are not enough, not strong enough, not prepared enough. But God’s Word tells us something very different.
When Joshua stood on the edge of the Promised Land, he faced an overwhelming task: leading an entire nation into unknown territory, with enemies ahead and Moses no longer by his side. Into that moment of fear, God spoke these words: “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Fear is a weapon of the enemy.
The devil knows that if he can keep us trapped in fear, we will hesitate, retreat, or even stop walking in the calling God has placed on our lives. Fear becomes a chain that holds us back from serving, sharing, and stepping out in faith. That’s why the Bible tells us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). When fear rises, we can recognize its source and resist it, standing firm in God’s promises.
In James 4:7 it says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When we submit our fears to God and resist the tactics of the devil, he flees! He flees because he knows that he cannot win against the Almighty God, our Father in Heaven. When we remember that we are God’s children, we have God on our side. “He will never leave you nor forsake you”. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Fear loses its power when we focus on God’s promises. We can’t stop fear from knocking at the door of our hearts and minds, but we can choose not to let it in. When we cling to God’s promises—like Joshua 1:9—we remind ourselves that the One who holds the universe is also holding us.
May God Remind us daily that He is with us always!
Blessings,
Allyson Hara
