I’ve been taught my entire life that courage is a virtue that only the “best” of men possess in abundance. I don’t always feel so courageous. I’ve sometimes thought, “Well, Ed, maybe you’re just not built that way,” or, “Maybe you’re still missing something…some kind of secret ingredient that’ll magically fill you to the brim with courage.” Then other times I think, “Ed, you can’t measure yourself against what you see in Hollywood. Don’t buy the lie that this virtue is something some men are born with while others aren’t. That’s a lie from the pit of Hell meant to discourage you.”

I’ve been reading about Joshua (Moses’ successor as leader of Israel), who undoubtedly embodied courage. But, as a mere man, he did not possess perfect courage, which means he would’ve been discouraged from time to time, especially when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. War, for example, has a habit of doing that to even the best of men. But the Lord always helped Joshua by reminding him how to be strong and courageous. We can learn a lot from this!

And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.

It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
- Deuteronomy 31:5-8

Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord encouraged Joshua?!! It truly is. However, if you read this passage closely, what do you see as the prerequisite to Joshua’s courage?

Obedience.

There you have it, and this blog is only halfway done! I’ve given you the answer to the question, “How can I be strong and courageous?”

The answer is simple. Trust God in all that you do. If you trust Him, you will obey His commands. If you know you’re doing His will, then you are filled with courage because we know that God has never failed at anything He’s ever decided to do! So, if you’re with Him – if you have faith - you will find success, always!

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
- Mark 11:22-24

Like Joshua, we sometimes face great odds. But it doesn’t matter, as the Lord promises us success. If it’s God’s will, it will come to pass (ref: Isaiah 55:11). Our duty is to follow His lead - to obey.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Romans 8:28-31

The answer to Paul’s rhetorical question in v31 is, “No one!” No one can ever thwart the will of God. So, be encouraged for as long as you are aligned with His will! Trust this with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (ala Mark 12:30). Obey the Lord’s commands the way Joshua did throughout his life and watch how He delivers you in every way, to His own glory, even.

Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
- Joshua 1:6-9 

Courage is nothing more than applied faith.

No one is born with courage. It is a gift that transcends all circumstances in life. It is faith incarnate through an otherwise weak, scared, fragile human being. So, if you ponder from time to time, like I do, how you can be strong and courageous, just remember the secret to Joshua’s success – faith manifested as obedience, for that is all courage is.

To do the very will of God, to be righteous, is to have the greatest of courage. Forget any other definition you may have learned from the world.

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
- Proverbs 28:1

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins