✟ Be Strong and Courageous: The Lord Goes Before You

Deuteronomy 31:7–8 (NLT)
"Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched he said to him, 'Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.'"

Life is filled with moments when the path ahead is unclear. We may feel as though we are standing at the edge of a wilderness, uncertain if we have the strength to take the next step. For Israel, this was not a theory but a reality. Moses, their long-time leader, was preparing to leave them. The man who had spoken with God on Mount Sinai, who had lifted his staff and parted the Red Sea, was not going with them into the Promised Land. Instead, Joshua—a new leader, younger and less experienced—was chosen to guide them forward.

At this pivotal moment, Moses gives Joshua a charge that still speaks to us today: “Be strong and courageous… Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you.” When life feels uncertain, when resources feel scarce, when tomorrow feels daunting—this is God’s word for us as well.

Moses tells Joshua, “Be strong and courageous!” Strength and courage were not optional—they were essential. But this strength was not to come from Joshua’s own abilities or Israel’s numbers. True strength flows from reliance on the Lord.

The Apostle Paul later echoes this truth in Philippians 4:13 (NLT): “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Courage is not the absence of fear; rather, it is choosing to trust God in the presence of fear. Joshua would have moments of doubt and fear, but his courage was anchored in God’s presence, not in his personal qualifications.

So too for us. We are not called to muster courage from within but to lean on the One who strengthens us. When we face challenges beyond our control, God reminds us: “Do not be afraid. I am with you.”

The mission before Joshua was daunting, but it was grounded in God’s promise. The land was not Joshua’s idea, nor Israel’s achievement. It was God’s sworn covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joshua’s role was not to manufacture success but to faithfully lead God’s people into what God had already prepared.

This is a powerful reminder for us. God’s plans are not dependent on our resources or ingenuity. His promises are sure, and His Word never fails. We may not see how provision will come, but our security rests in the certainty of His promises.

When God calls us to walk forward in faith, we can step boldly, not because we have all the answers, but because He holds the outcome. Our confidence lies not in what we can see, but in the God who has spoken.

The heart of Moses’ charge comes in verse 8: “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

This is the anchor for every believer in seasons of uncertainty: God Himself goes before us. He does not simply send us into the unknown with a pat on the back; He leads the way. His presence is constant—before us to guide, beside us to support, behind us to protect. He will not fail. He will not abandon.

These words are echoed throughout Scripture:

• In Joshua 1:9 (NLT), God tells Joshua directly, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
• In Hebrews 13:5 (NLT), we are reassured, “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”

What greater security can we have? Even when earthly resources are thin, when human support feels shaky, when tomorrow looms uncertain, God’s presence is the unshakable foundation of our hope.

Though we live centuries removed from Joshua and Moses, the truth of this passage remains the same. The God who went before Israel goes before us today. The Lord who provided manna in the wilderness provides for His children in every season. The Savior who calmed the storm still whispers peace into the hearts of those battered by life’s winds.

Trials refine our faith. They strip away self-reliance and teach us to cling to God’s promises with both hands. In times of transition, in times of need, in times of uncertainty, we discover anew that He is enough.

The words spoken to Joshua ring just as true for us: “Be strong and courageous… Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

So, dear friends, when you face the unknown, hold to this truth: you are never alone. The God who called Joshua to lead, the God who parted seas and toppled walls, is the same God who walks with you today. Be strong. Be courageous. Step forward in faith, knowing that He has already gone ahead of you.

This week, as you encounter challenges, speak God’s promise aloud: “The Lord goes before me. He will never leave me nor abandon me.” Write it down. Pray it over your life. Share it with someone who needs encouragement. And when fear whispers in your ear, answer with the unshakable truth of God’s Word.

So, I say to you, “May the Lord strengthen your faith and use it for His glory, as you walk humbly in His presence.”