Be of good courage

Thoughts from Joshua chapter 1

When God calls you to a job, it's common to be afraid. Afraid of what people might say. Afraid of failure. Afraid of success. It's common to be afraid, because God doesn't call us to do jobs that we, as humans, can do easily. God calls us to God sized jobs.

Joshua had been Moses's assistant, he knew the job. He had been in the desert with the people God called him to lead (okay, so maybe that's why he was afraid). He had seen the land God had promised and he knew that, with God's help, it could be conquered. (Numbers 14:6-9) The job wasn't completely unknown to him. Yet, he must have been afraid. Four times in the first chapter of the book of Joshua, God tells him to "Be strong and of good courage." God assured Joshua that He was with him wherever he goes and reminded him to remember what Moses taught him and to meditate in the law day and night. Joshua was tho have courage, so he could encourage the Hebrew people.

When God calls us to lead, it's natural for us to be afraid. We are to have courage and know God is with us, leading us. When we follow Him and keep His Word on our heart, mind, and lips, we can have the courage to do whatever it is He calls us to do. Then, we can encourage those He puts under our influence.

Joshua encouraged the people that they were about to see God's greatness. He gave them three days to prepare the provisions they needed to cross the Jordan and take the land God promised them. What is that you need to do to prepare yourself to take God's promise? Have courage. Meditate on His Word and prepare yourself for God to pass by. He'll do more than you ever could.