January 1, 2026
P.S. Happy New Year! For 2026 we’re doing something different. Every single day, I’ll be sharing a verse and a short, heart-to-heart thought to help us remember that God is so much bigger than the worry we are feeling. Come and join each day as we kick worry to the curb.
P.P.S. There were a lot of technical screw-ups with the New Year date change-over. I have been pulling my hair out trying to get this back online. I will admit, it broke me more than once. But we are up and running so there will be posts for the 1st through the 4th all posted today.
Stepping into the New-Joshua 1
”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 (NIV)
Joshua 1:Break Down and Context
Joshua 1:9 is one of the most widely quoted verses in the Bible when it comes to building courage and overcoming fear. God spoke these words directly to Joshua when he took over leadership of the Israelites after the death of Moses. He faced the up hill battle of conquering the Promised Land.
”Have I not commanded you?” This is a rhetorical question (a question with an answer so obvious that an answer is not necessary) by God. It is His way of establishing His divine authority.
Courage, here, is not an optional emotional state. It is a direct command from God. Because the Creator of the universe is issuing the order, Joshua has a foundational reason and obligation to obey it.
”Be strong and courageous.” This command is repeated multiple times in Joshua 1. Here, “strong” refers to physical and mental firmness and fortitude. “Courageous” is boldness is the face of danger. This statement implies that fear will be present, but action must be taken anyway.
”Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,” Joshua was facing a fortified city (a city with walls and gates), giants (the Anakites), and an army they had never faced and knew nothing about. With this statement, God addresses both the immediate reaction (fear) and the long-term emotional toll it may have (discouragement or dismay). It is a warning to not let the external obstacles break your internal resolve.
”for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” This is the solid theological promise that gives validatey to the entire command.
This means that true courage does not come from self-confidence, talent, or favorable circumstances. It relies entirely on the constant presence of God (Immanuel). His presence guarantees that Joshua is never isolated, no matter where his mission takes him.
Core Principles for the Application
- Courage is a Choice: Feeling fear is natural, but acting in spite of the fear is a deliberate decision you make that is rooted in obedience to God’s command.
- His Presence Over Our Circumstances: The promise He makes is not that the journey will be easy, but that you will not have to walk through it alone.
- The Fix For Discouragement: Reminding yourself of God’s past faithfulness protects your heart and keeps you from losing hope during the many obstacles in your way.
Walking Unafraid Into Your Unknown
The Command for Boldness
Courage is often treated as a personality trait-some people have it and some people don’t. However, in Joshia 1:9, God shows courage as something entirely different. He presents it as a direct command, not as a feeling: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.”
When God spoke these words to Joshua, he was getting ready to fill the massive shoes of Moses. He was given the task of leading millions of people into unfamiliar territory filled with fortified cities and trying obstacles. Fear was the natural human response to his circumstances. Yet, God bypassed Joshua’s feelings and appealed directly to his will.
Choosing Strength Over Feelings
True biblical courage is not the absence of fear; it’s the deliberate decision to move forward in obedience to God anyway. God commands us to be strong/courageous because He knows our tendency to shrink baxk and cower when the path ahead looks difficult or uncertain. By making it a command, He is inviting us to rely on Him and His strength rather than our ever changing emotions.
The Twin Enemies of Faith
God follows His command with a double warning “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” These two emotional states represent the immediate (afraid) and long-term (discouragement) enemies of our faith.
Breaking Down Fear and Discouragement
Fear: This is the sudden panic or anxiety that takes hold and grips us when we look at the size of our problems. It paralyzes us in the present moment.
Discouragement: This is the slow, heavy drain on our spirit that takes hold over time. It causes us to lose heart, making us want to give up on the future entirely.
God addresses both of these because He wants to protect both our immediate reaction and our long-term endurance. He knows that if we let fear dictate our steps, or let discouragement settle into our souls, we will miss out on the “territory” He has called us to possess.
The Secret to Ultimate Confidence
The most beautiful part of this verse is the fact that God doesn’t leave alone to gather up the courage. He gives us the ultimate reason for our boldness: “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Our confidence doesn’t rest in our talent, our resources, or a guaranteed easy outcome. Our confidence rests soley on a Presence. Because the Creator of the universe walks beside us, we are never outnumbered, never abandoned, and never truly ill-equipped. Wherever your path leads today-into difficult conversations, new responsibilities, or a deeply uncertain future-you do not go alone.
This verse gave me comfort in light of my new endeavor; the same way God’s words comforted Joshua. When God called Joshua to lead, he was stepping into a massive, unknown future. He likely felt the same “what-if” worries we feel when we are starting a new job, project, or season of life. God didn’t just tell Joshua to “stop worrying”; He gave him a reason: His presence is the “guiding light” that traveled with him. The same “guiding light” that travels with us. This means we are never walking into a new situation alone. God will be with us in this new year, helping us succeed at whatever venture we are being led to.
Applying Joshua 1 Today
Applying Joshua 1 Today
Navigating New Careers or Missions
Use this verse when you are stepping out to do anything new-a job, starting a business, facing unemployment, or a new endevor God has called you to. True courage means moving forward despite the uncertainty.
Overcoming Mental Fatigue:
Apply this verse as a warning against the daily burnout, anxiety, and emotional drain from prolonged personal trials.
Stepping Into Leadership Or a New Mission
Lean on the presence of God when you have been tasked with leading your family, beginning a church ministry, or a team project in the workplace, especially when you feel unqualified.
Facing Difficult Conversations
Gather strength from the promise of God’s presence when you have to have a difficult conversation about setting boundaries, addressing conflict, or speaking the hard truths in a relationship.
Breaking Free from Stagnation
Recognize that staying comfortable out fear misses the best of God. He can do so much with you and your life if you obey His commands. New spiritual growth requires stepping into the unknown.
Grab a sticky note, index card, or piece of paper and write the Sticky Note Minute down. Keep it where you can see it or have access to it throughout the day. Look at it when you need to remind yourself that God is always with you. You don’t need to get through it with your strength. Lean on God and remember that He is always with you.
Sticky Note Minute: He is with me wherever I go.
Challenge for Today: If you are nervous about a “new thing” today, grab a sticky note, index card, or paper and write: “He is with me wherever I go.” Place it on your mirror, computer screen or anywhere you will see it throughout the day. Let it remind you that you don’t need to have it all figured out-you just need to take the next step, with Him.
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