Joshua faced the daunting task of leading Israel into the unknown. Cities were fortified, armies stronger, and challenges overwhelming. Yet God’s command was not “be skilled” or “be experienced,” but “be strong and courageous”—because His presence guaranteed success.

Joshua himself knew what fear felt like. Forty years earlier he stood on the border of the Promised Land with twelve spies. Ten returned terrified, describing giants and impossible cities. But Joshua and Caleb saw something different—not the strength of the enemy, but the strength of God. Now, after Moses’ death, the full weight of leadership rested on Joshua’s shoulders. He had to cross the Jordan at flood stage, face Jericho’s impenetrable walls, and lead a nation still prone to doubt. Yet God spoke directly into his trembling heart: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee… I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Courage was not a feeling Joshua found inside himself—it was a gift grounded in God’s abiding presence.

Joshua’s story reminds us that courage does not erase fear—it overcomes it by trusting the One who walks ahead of us. God did not tell Joshua the battles would be easy, but He promised they would never be faced alone. Every step into the unknown was accompanied by the God who parts seas, levels walls, and keeps every promise He makes.

Today, God’s call may lead us into classrooms, workplaces, or mission fields where we feel inadequate. Courage does not come from our own resources but from His companionship. Wherever God calls us, He equips us, because His presence never sends us alone. Every challenge becomes an opportunity to see His strength revealed through our weakness.

Prayer: Mighty God, when we face uncertainty, remind us that You are with us. Fill us with courage to obey Your call and confidence that Your strength will sustain us wherever You lead. Amen.