Be Strong and Courageous

"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." — Joshua 1:9

Icebreaker

Ask the group: "Have you ever had to take on a responsibility you didn't feel ready for? What gave you the strength to move forward — or what held you back?" Allow 2–3 people to share.

Teaching

Joshua receives the greatest assignment of his life at the worst possible moment: Moses has just died — the man who spoke with God face to face, who parted the Red Sea, who led the people for forty years. And the very first thing God says to him is: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready" (v. 2).

1. God doesn't promise ease — He promises presence

Notice what God does not say to Joshua. He doesn't say the conquest will be quick. He doesn't say there won't be enemies, casualties, or hard nights ahead. What He does promise is: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you" (v. 5).

We often come to God looking for a guarantee of an easy road, when what He offers is the guarantee of His companionship on a hard one. Those are two very different things — and the second is infinitely better.

2. The command is repeated because the fear was real

Three times in nine verses, God tells Joshua: be strong and courageous (vv. 6, 7, 9). A command isn't repeated to someone who no longer needs it. The fact that God kept saying it is proof that Joshua was afraid.

This frees us from a false idea: courage is not the absence of fear. If Joshua felt no fear, the command would have been unnecessary. Courage is moving forward because God has spoken — even with fear still on the inside.

3. Joshua's strength didn't come from his personality

It's tempting to read this passage and conclude that Joshua was simply a naturally fearless man. But the text points in a different direction. The foundation of his courage wasn't temperament — it was a certainty: "for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (v. 9).

If strength depended on personality, only the naturally bold could serve God. But if strength comes from the presence of God, then it's available to the timid, the insecure, and to anyone who today feels too small for the mission in front of them.

Discussion Questions

What practical difference does it make to seek God for "an easy path" instead of "His presence on a hard path"?

God repeated the same command to Joshua three times. Is there something you sense God has been telling you repeatedly — something you still haven't acted on?

Have you ever used your personality ("that's just not who I am," "I'm an introvert") as a reason not to step into something God has called you to?

What "Moses" in your life — a source of security, a mentor, a support — has been removed, leaving you feeling like it's now on you to lead the way?

Practical Challenge for the Week

Identify one area where fear has you stuck. Write on a piece of paper: "God is with me here." Then take one concrete step in that area this week — small, but real. Don't wait until you stop feeling afraid to act; act while the fear is still there.

Be Strong and Courageous