You’ve probably felt the way I’m feeling right now: stomach in knots, scatterbrained, pressured, etc. For me it comes with launching into something new that requires faith because, right now, the numbers don’t add up. You are on that fulcrum between, on the one hand, measured, reasonable action based upon careful planning. On the other hand, you realize that there is a leap of faith, a launching into uncertainty and the impulsive decision to ‘Go!’ in spite of how you feel deep down.
When Moses gave his parting words to Joshua as he was about to take the mantle of leadership, he told him three times: “Be strong and courageous” (Deuteronomy 31:6,7,23). Why? Because the Lord would be leading the way as he led the people of Israel.
When Joshua challenged the people of Israel to go forward into the land of promise, he uttered the same words three times: “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6,7,9) because the Lord was going to go before them. Later, king David challenged Solomon with the same words (1 Chronicles 28:20).
I have a question.
When you are assured that God is going with you, that He is going before you and that He will be with you all of the way, why is it necessary to be strong and courageous? If our confidence and assurance is in Him, why must we be strong and courageous. Isn’t that what He is…strong and courageous…as He leads the way and we follow behind Him?
As I have contemplated this concept of being strong and courageous I have come to believe that it takes strength and courage to trust God to see us through. Our natural inclination is to launch forth confidently knowing that we have the intestinal fortitude to face whatever challenge is ahead because we are ingenious, strong and disciplined. This is what we usually mean when we tell each other to be strong and courageous. “You can do it,” we often say, “I have confidence in you!” This is also why we are often so nervous when starting something new: we don’t feel so strong and courageous in and of ourselves.
The challenge to be strong and courageous from God’s perspective, it seems to me, is that we be strong and courageous in our trust in His ability to see us through and so we get to work, trusting Him, placing our faith in Him and watching to see His hand at work. Letting go of the controls, trusting Him and moving forward with confidence in His ability to bring good out of whatever may come is probably better termed, faith. Putting our faith in Him modes not mean that we sit on our hands to watch Him do all of the work. What it means is that we move forward with all our might trusting Him with the eventual outcome, anticipating another opportunity to watch Him at work. Talk about strength and courage!
And so, as I sit here ready to sign up to lease an office space for my fledgling private practice, my stomach twists up as I choose to be strong and courageous to sign on the bottom line trusting Him to make the most of my faith walk as I look expectantly towards his guiding hand.
Be strong and courageous.