April 9th

April 9th

So, we know things won’t be easy and that we won’t always want to face what comes at us. We now know that we can’t blame God that He didn’t prevent it. But let’s take it a step further. He didn’t command us to grin and bear it. He didn’t say, “do your best and I will see ya later.” He gave us commands and promises. Let’s look:

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Notice He did not say, “Have I not asked you?” or “Have I not suggested?” or “Don’t you think it would be a good idea?”

Nope, He said, “Have I not COMMANDED you?” -He COMMANDED us to be strong and courageous! That’s a big ask! He isn’t asking us to be strong and courageous during the good times only. He commands us to be strong and courageous during the tough times. The times when we don’t even want to get out of bed because we are hurting, depressed, scared or dreading what we have to face that day!

That word “commanded” in the original Hebrew is צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ or ṣiw·wî·ṯî·ḵā in our phonetic spelling. It means to command as in commanding an army to do something, to give orders, to charge a subordinate to do something. But it also goes further, meaning to define an act that is relevant to a situation and establish a rule for behavior to be applied to all future situations. So, He commands us to be strong and courageous in all future situations!! That is a big ask!! He commands us to be strong and courageous…Forever!?!

Vines dictionary points out that God’s commands are different than human commands. God’s commands require an inner commitment, not just an external obedience.

There is no way to be strong and courageous in every situation without some internal commitment. That is a tough command…but He didn’t leave it at that did He? He finished the verse. He said, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Wherever you go…no place is excluded…the nicest resort, or the valley of the shadow of death, no place is excluded. He does not ask us to do anything that He is not going to be right there doing with us and He will be doing it in us and through us! That’s the only way we CAN do it.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

So He commands us to be strong and courageous, but then He tells us why we have the right to do that! -Because He is with us wherever we go!

He is with you and He loves you and He wants to do something in your life. You were born for such a time as this!

So step forward in faith, strong and courageous and let Him move in you! I pray that you will get all that God has for you in this moment in your life this day, this week.

Esther 4:14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

I encourage you to read the story of Esther this week. She had to be strong and courageous as she risked death to be obedient. But her obedience saved a whole nation.

Jesus, often I shrink back when hard times come, dreading the pain or difficulty. Forgive me for that. Help me to remember the second half of that verse, that you are with me wherever I go, that You are the reason I can be strong and courageous. Help me to learn to be strong and courageous in You. Help me to see what I need to see and understand what I need to understand to be able to walk forward courageously in the plan you have for my life. I often don’t feel strong enough or worthy to have you have a great plan for me. Help me to remember that your calling is not dependent on my worthiness, just my willingness. Thank you for loving me and always being with me wherever I go.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.