Be Strong and Courageous

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I find this passage interesting because the thing that Moses already told the Israelites a few verses earlier would happen, was the very thing he was also telling them not to be afraid about. How many times do we get a prophetic word about our lives, a promise, but we still start to fear and be discouraged even though we have a solid word from God to hang on to that it will happen?!

I also find it interesting that Moses had to tell them three times in three different ways to be strong and courageous . The first time we see this is in verse 6 when he is speaking to the people, and he says “be strong and of good courage.” We see it again in verse 7 when he says to Joshua “be strong and of good courage.” Exact same words reiterated. We then see it for a third time in verse 8 when he gives the reminder again that God will be with them. This is also now the second time in the same passage that He gives the reminder to not fear and that God will be with them.

I’m reading this and wondering to myself, why are we like this?! Why do we need so many reminders? Like for real, I’m sure you can think of many times, maybe even this week alone, where God had to remind you of the same thing multiple times.

It makes me think of my own children and how they need constant reminders. Particularly Olivia, my 6-year-old, who likes to frequently remind me of things she needs to get done for school. Whether it’s money for something, or a project due, or an upcoming event—she protects that information and reminds me over and over until it’s done. Here’s the thing—she’s never been without. I have never missed a deadline for a project for her or forgotten to send her with money for an event—yet she still carefully monitors it [and me] with an unsubstantiated fear that something is going to be missed. It’s actually the beautiful part of her personality that is responsible, attentive to detail, and cares to make sure things are done well. It just needs to be continually refined by the Lord. Now, I may not do things all the time right when she wants it. It may be later than when the other kids bring stuff in. There may be a shadow of doubt that is cast when it appears as though it’s not going to happen. But we always come through in the end. But sometimes, she still forgets and reminds me as though I’ve somehow failed her in the past. Then I ask, “have I ever missed this?” She always says, no, and then realizes that her concern was for nothing.

This is how we are sometimes with God. Yes there may have been moments of let down and disappointment along the way when we can’t see things from His perspective, but I imagine if we are still here and reading this, then He is still working on your story and the end is not finished yet. So, the truth is, He always comes through. So why do we forget all the times He resolved all the things we were concerned about? It’s like we just forget everything! We don’t need to police God to make sure He is doing everything want. We don’t need to control every narrative and take over when we don’t get what we want right this second.

Be strong and courageous. Do it afraid. Forge ahead. He is with you wherever you go.

This blog post totally is for me. Can I be vulnerable for a minute here? As I prepare to go out of town (at the time of writing this), there’s a panic that sometimes rises up within me when I travel and leave my children behind. I worry about them, I worry about me, I worry about my husband. I want to make sure everyone is safe and ok and has all they need. There’s a control issue, an anxiety issue, and a worry issue. Let’s throw fear in there too. IF I allow it to linger and take up residence. It’s a choice. The enemy would love to push back against me and paralyze me with fear. This is when I choose to push back against him, forge ahead, and do what God has called me to do.

My girls sat with me early this morning while I was reading my Bible, and I shared this verse with them and those 4 simple words, “be strong and courageous.” I told them to say it if they found themselves feeling lonely, afraid, or scared today. I have said it over myself today, and will continue to do so. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous.

I encourage you today, whatever could try to keep you trapped in fear, anxiety, loneliness or worry—be strong and courageous.

-R 🧡