Be strong and of good courage." Joshua 1:6, 9, 18,10:25; Deut. 31:6; 1 Chron. 22:13
It's a command. A command I've known since childhood. But a command that I have often wrongly viewed as a suggestion. If there is one area that the Lord has helped me to grow in, it is trusting Him. And I know I have far to go yet.
Fear is a funny thing. It often makes very little sense intellectually, particularly for the Christian. God will never give us what is not for His glory and our good. He will never give us more than we can handle. Yet I have found and still find myself worrying about the silliest little things. Have I forgotten that God knows the hairs on my head? (Luke 12:6-7) Have I forgotten that He is always with me? (Matt. 28:20) Most importantly, have I forgotten that God has commanded me as His child to not be afraid? (Josh. 1:9) Have I forgotten that I am to obey? I choose to forget all of these things when I choose to be afraid. And like other sins, the end result of fear is never worth what was "gained" by temporarily caving to the flesh.
But God promises that those who trust in Him will be blessed. He promises that those who fear Him, He will protect.
Psalm 34:7-8, "The Angel of the Lord encamps around all of those that fear Him, and delivers him. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him."
And there is such joy in obeying this command. I'm sure that I don't have to tell you that fear and worry causes so much pain. Not only physically, but emotionally and relationally. There have been times in my life when I really didn't want to do something because I was afraid. On one particular instance, some years ago, My dad, being the loving father that he is, made me do it in spite of my fear. And even though, I'm ashamed to say, that I didn't always do it willingly, there was a joy in obeying him - and in a larger way in obeying God.
One time a Sunday school teacher of mine said this, "that Satan is on a leash. He can only go so far as God will let him." (The book of Job expounds on that...) Those words I think have comforted me the most. God is in control of what Satan does and does not do. Nothing will ever happen outside of God's plan. It's prefect, it's flawless, and even though at times it may seem backward, God has a master plan that will be accomplished eventually. I can trust Him with that.
There is no reason for me to disobey Him. He will give us the grace we need to be strong and of good courage, because He will be with us...always. :-)
Fear is a funny thing. It often makes very little sense intellectually, particularly for the Christian. God will never give us what is not for His glory and our good. He will never give us more than we can handle. Yet I have found and still find myself worrying about the silliest little things. Have I forgotten that God knows the hairs on my head? (Luke 12:6-7) Have I forgotten that He is always with me? (Matt. 28:20) Most importantly, have I forgotten that God has commanded me as His child to not be afraid? (Josh. 1:9) Have I forgotten that I am to obey? I choose to forget all of these things when I choose to be afraid. And like other sins, the end result of fear is never worth what was "gained" by temporarily caving to the flesh.
But God promises that those who trust in Him will be blessed. He promises that those who fear Him, He will protect.
Psalm 34:7-8, "The Angel of the Lord encamps around all of those that fear Him, and delivers him. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him."
And there is such joy in obeying this command. I'm sure that I don't have to tell you that fear and worry causes so much pain. Not only physically, but emotionally and relationally. There have been times in my life when I really didn't want to do something because I was afraid. On one particular instance, some years ago, My dad, being the loving father that he is, made me do it in spite of my fear. And even though, I'm ashamed to say, that I didn't always do it willingly, there was a joy in obeying him - and in a larger way in obeying God.
One time a Sunday school teacher of mine said this, "that Satan is on a leash. He can only go so far as God will let him." (The book of Job expounds on that...) Those words I think have comforted me the most. God is in control of what Satan does and does not do. Nothing will ever happen outside of God's plan. It's prefect, it's flawless, and even though at times it may seem backward, God has a master plan that will be accomplished eventually. I can trust Him with that.
There is no reason for me to disobey Him. He will give us the grace we need to be strong and of good courage, because He will be with us...always. :-)
