There are times that we need God’s encouragement, and He speaks to us through His word or His spirit to give us the courage to move into an unknown territory. The below scriptures show how the Lord encouraged Joshua before he embarked upon his new role as the leader of the Israelites.
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and 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 1:1-9
Following the death of Moses, the Lord began speaking directly to Joshua. Now he was the leader of Israel, and he was accountable to the Lord for guiding His people. The Lord promised Joshua that he would never leave him nor forsake him. What a beautiful assurance as he was walking into a unknown and hostile territory! The Lord also promised Joshua that Israel was going to get the land of their own. In addition, he specified the territories that they were going to get.
Then the Lord encouraged Joshua by telling him to not be afraid nor be dismayed. Fear is the opposite of courage. Fear has a tendency to pull someone back from God’s plan for their lives. It can also make someone stay stuck in their situation because they are too afraid to seek a change. In addition, being dismayed causes someone to get weak in their resolve because they are discouraged by the circumstances. This leads them to shy away from moving forward.
It is interesting that when Moses sent the twelve spies years earlier to the Promised Land, Joshua was one of only two people who had the courage to believe that they could defeat the giants. Nevertheless, God knew that Joshua would be faced with people and circumstances that will cause him to be afraid and dismayed, so He prepared him for what was ahead.
All of us need encouragement when we take on a new task that we have never done before. It can be very unsettling when we move into new territories that we have never walked before and are not familiar with. In the new season, we can’t be hard on ourselves and expect that will have all the answers. It is important to call upon the Lord and ask Him to help us. It is also important to get around those who have walked that path before, and they can be a source of encouragement. We need people who can remind us of God’s faithfulness and His word when we are stepping into new territory and can be a source of support and strength.
The Lord encouraged Joshua by telling him to be strong and courageous. Interestingly, the Lord repeated his encouragement three times, but the Lord also exhorted Joshua to follow His commandments. True encouragement is not empty platitudes. It is about understanding what is required to move forward and be strengthened to accomplish God’s purpose. Sometimes we may shy away from reminding people that following God’s instructions is still part and parcel of the courage and strength that God promises us. We still need to partner with the Lord, do our part, and allow God to do His part in giving us the supernatural power to move forward.
Are you in a new season? Do you feel overwhelmed by what is going on around you? Seek the Lord and let Him speak to you. Listen to His instructions. Then ask Him to show you those who can be a source of support for you in this season.
