Courage to Remain Faithful

 Chosen Paths

“Be strong and courageous… 

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

God’s words to Joshua come at a decisive and vulnerable moment. Moses is no more, the great leader who had guided Israel out of Egypt, and the people now stand on the eastern edge of the Jordan River, facing an unknown land filled with uncertainty, opposition, and responsibility. It is then—not after Joshua has proven himself, not once the battles are won—that God speaks: “Be strong and courageous… do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7–9). The command is rooted not in Joshua’s competence but in God’s unchanging presence and promise.

In this context, courage does not mean clarity about what lies ahead; it means obedience in the midst of transition. God calls Joshua to anchor his leadership not in strategy alone, but in sustained attentiveness to the Word—meditating on it day and night and refusing to turn aside. Strength is thus reframed: it is not self-generated resolve, but a life steadily yielded to God. As Israel had once been urged to “choose life” by loving and clinging to the Lord (Deuteronomy 30:19–20), Joshua now embodies that same daily choice on behalf of the people.

So it is with us. God often speaks His word of courage at thresholds—after losses, before changes, and in seasons when familiar supports are gone. When we place our plans, fears, and decisions into His hands, we discover that His way does not diminish our freedom; it restores it. Faithfulness becomes the quiet courage of remaining on the path God has set, trusting that the same Lord who spoke at the Jordan still goes with us wherever we go.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you speak to us at the thresholds of our lives. Give us courage rooted in trust, hearts shaped by your Word, and grace to remain faithful in every season. Lead us forward in confidence that you are with us always. Amen.