The greatest test of courage

The greatest test of courage

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:2-8

 2 Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan

 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

 6 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

 9 This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

What are the key elements for achieving success in life? Numerous general principles and strategies have been recognized as effective in attaining your objectives and experiencing a sense of fulfillment.

• Set clear and specific goals. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART goals).
• Develop a plan of action: Break down your goals into smaller, actionable steps.
• Work hard and stay committed: Success requires hard work, persistence, and dedication. Develop a mindset that sees failures as learning opportunities.
• Continuously learn and improve: Seek knowledge and develop new skills relevant to your goals.
• Take calculated risks: Go outside of your comfort zone. Embrace opportunities for growth and be open to new experiences.
• Develop a strong support network: Surround yourself with supportive and positive people who believe in your abilities. Seek mentors or role models who can provide guidance and advice based on their own experiences.
• Stay focused and maintain balance: Maintain a balance between your personal and professional life

For the children of the King, success cannot be measured using the standards of human wisdom or culture. If one strives for prosperity and success independently of the Father, they may attain their goals but eventually find themselves filled with regret. Sadly, this is so often the case.

Scottish novelist, George MacDonald wrote, “Without God, any endeavor is destined to either miserable failure or a more miserable success.” The success of the children of the King is the natural outcome of a life fully dedicated to the Father and the truth of the Word of God. When we walk in the spirit and experience His enablement, good things happen.

Psalms 106:15 He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.

“The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart” (Robert Ingersoll).

REFLECT & PRAY

“Remember you will not always win. Some days, the most resourceful individual will taste defeat. But there is, in this case, always tomorrow – after you have done your best to achieve success today” (Maxwell Maltz).

Father thank You for the high standards and steps of action You have provided. Encourage and strengthen me to meditate upon and live by Your principles.

INSIGHT

Knowing this, what questions should we ponder to redirect our lives and seek success according to the guidelines laid out by the Father to Joshua? The following matters should be taken into consideration. Are we empowered by the Holy Spirit? Do we seek to follow the Father’s dreams for our lives? Are we focused on living and serving the Father in such a way that He is honored? If we can honestly answer yes to these questions, then our efforts are deemed successful in God’s eyes, regardless of others’ opinions (Wiersbe).

“It’s one thing to say to a leader, ‘Be strong! Be very courageous!’ and quite something else to enable him to do it” (Wiersbe). Joshua’s strength and courage stemmed from his continual deep dive into God’s Word and his meditation upon it. The power and authority of the Father are released when we develop unwavering belief in its promises and faithful adherence to its principles (Wiersbe).

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous! Do Not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

This command is expressed by two synonymous verbs in Hebrew: “Be strong and be courageous.” These are translated in a variety of ways: be strong, be resolute, be strong and stand firm, and be strong and brave (UBS).

The Hebrew verb translated as strong is hazaq. Hazaq has the sense of being strong or powerful beyond the average or expected, either physically or in one’s frame of mind. It means to be or become strong, strengthen, prevail, harden, be courageous, or show or act with resolution.

The Hebrew word rendered as courageous is amets. Amets connotes being courageous and able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching. It means to be stout, strong, bold, alert, solid, or hard. In modern colloquial English, we might say, “Man up.” “Man up” has the sense of dealing with challenging circumstances with bravery facing and fulfilling our responsibilities heroically.

The Lord repeatedly encouraged Joshua to be strong and exceedingly courageous (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9). Joshua was likely burdened by the magnitude and duration of the task ahead and the pressures of leading a stubborn, obstinate people. But perhaps, his most significant concern was the absence of his spiritual mentor, Moses. However, the Lord did not call him without equipping him. There were compelling reasons for Joshua to find strength: God’s promise of victory (Joshua 1:5, 6), the reliability of God’s Word (Joshua 1:7, 8) as a trustworthy guide, and the comforting presence of the Father Himself as an unwavering source of support (Joshua 1:9).

“The real battle of faith is joined here. Not what we are, but what He is! Not what we feel, but His facts” (T. Austin Sparks).

The most challenging aspect of the instructions that the Father provided Joshua is the requirement to make His directions an integral part of who Joshua is and what he does. He must constantly review and meditate upon them for guidance, direction, and strength. It is no coincidence that all children of the King face the same struggle to keep the Scriptures central and foundational to our lives, conduct, and aspirations.

These assurances have nothing to do with worldly wealth or success but have everything to do with accomplishing our assignment from the Father. When we ask for counsel and guidance from the Father (Joshua 9:14), He provides direction and keen insight in any circumstance.

In our fallen world, we face many hurdles, and sadly we will fall short. When we fail, we get up, continue our journey and persevere until the end.

“Courage is knowing it might hurt, and doing it anyway. Stupidity is the same. And that’s why life is hard” (Jeremy Goldberg).

“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness” (Martin Luther King, Jr.).

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© Dr. H 2023