Courage vs Fear

Only be strong an very courageous,
that you may observe to do according
to all the law which Moses My servant
commanded you; do not turn from it
to the right hand or to the left, that
you may prosper wherever you go.

This Book of the Law shall not depart
from your mouth, but you shall
meditate in it day and night, that
you may observe 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 of good courage: do not be
afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord
your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:7-9

Never will I forget on that fateful day of 9/11 watching things unfold after two planes crashed into the twin towers in New York City. Like so many American's, I have pictures of those days etched in my minds of sights too terrible to describe that will never leave me. One of the most remarkable things of that day in New York City was watching police and firemen rushing into those two buildings in the hope of rescuing as many people as they could. They didn't stop and think what the consequences of their bravery might be. We know now that many didn't come back out of those buildings and many of those heroes lost their lives. Many who did manage to get out were interviewed by the press. Those interviewed did so with tears streaking down their dirt and dust covered faces, sad that they couldn't do more to save more people. Such courage is rarely displayed like it was in those days.

When we speak of courage, I wonder if we ever pause to consider what courage is.
For several years, we had a family tradition of watching The Wizard of Oz on TV. Back then, the movie was shown on TV only once a year. If you have seen the movie, you will recall the Cowardly Lion. He wanted to go see the Wizard of Oz with Dorothy so that he could receive courage from the Wizard. That poor lion was always fearful, cowardly and so longed to be what a lion was supposed to be...brave and courageous. I guess it would be nice if courage came that easy for us.

Unfortunately, we usually think of courage as being something required for huge, difficult tasks. Such is not always true. Some of the most courageous people I have known have been those who faced difficulties no other human being knew about.

Looking up some definitions, I found courage to be:
facing one's fears (I've heard this one for several years)
strength in the face of pain, grief or danger
mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.

Moses had died. God took care of that whole incident, to the point that the people didn't even know the circumstances of his death nor where God chose to bury him. For years, Joshua had been groomed by Moses for leadership. Like many people in that kind of situation, Joshua probably never fully grasped that there could be a life without Moses and that he would be called upon to step into Moses' sandals. But, the day of Joshua's elevation to leadership had arrived. I can't imagine the intimidation he must have felt as he viewed on his own, for the first time, the horde of people Moses had been responsible for. He surely recalled all the headaches they gave Moses as he did his best to lead them to the homeland as God had instructed him. Despite Moses' dedication, too many times the people had risen up in rebellion against Moses.

It is so wonderful that when God places a call on one's life, He so wonderfully equips that person for the task ahead. That task that may seem insurmountable might be a new and difficult job or position. It could be a young man bending on his knee to propose to the love of his life, taking on the responsibility of a wife and future children...hardly a much higher calling than perhaps that of a wife. I have a dear friend in Texas who has found that she has a brain tumor. She, with her doctors are still working on what her treatment plan is to be. What of that young person, leaving home to go to college. He or she has perhaps never been away from home, mom and dad, friends but a new life now presents itself.

It's important to note that it was the Lord who in verse one of Joshua chapter one, spoke very clearly to Joshua and the encouraging instructions go for 9 verses. God wasted no words but along with a strong voice was also encouraging the promise of His guidance and direction. Please note that everything God promised Joshua is available to you and me as well. Also note that God never gives us a command we cannot keep as long as we rest in His strength and follow His instructions.

You may look over these verses but in this entire portion of Scripture, three times I see/hear God saying, “Be strong and of good courage” (1:6)....also...”Only be strong and very courageous”(1:7)...and then...”Be strong and of good courage.(1:9)” How does this happen? Those same verses explain the importance of following the Word of God. How are we to do that?

Verse 8 gives us the list:
The Word isn't to depart from our mouths. It is to be on the tip of our tongues. To do that we have to read it and know it well.
We are to meditate on the Word day and night...think upon it more than we think about our challenges.
There must be a determination to observe what we read in God's Word.
Rest in the fact that our God is with us wherever we go. (V 9)

All of us have challenges and difficult tasks ahead of us in this new year. The best preparation we can make for any expectation that comes our way is to be daily in the Word of God. It will instruct, guide, strengthen and comfort. It can instill a courage and resolve in our lives that very often the best of Christians won't understand as they observe you and me dealing with some seeming impossible calls on our lives. Let me also add that it is extremely rare for Christians to recognize courage in themselves. It is a quality usually observed by others and will rarely be known within one's self. A courageous Christian may sense an empowerment inside her/himself that is of God, but would rarely recognize it or refer to it as courage.

Dear Father, Draw me closer to Yourself than I've ever been. I can't make it through this life without your presence and directions. Keep me in Your Word and help me to obey Your everything Your Word asks of me. Thank you for loving me...In Jesus' precious name...Amen