Have I not commanded you? 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 1:9 NIV)
This verse gets quoted a lot. You see it on coffee mugs and graduation cards. But when God first said it, it wasn’t sentimental. It was spoken to a man who was stepping into some very big shoes.
Moses was gone. The wilderness years were over. A whole nation was looking at Joshua to lead them across the Jordan River into a land filled with enemies. That’s when God said, “Be strong and courageous.”
The Hebrew word translated “be strong” is chazaq, (חָזַק), pronounced kha-ZAHK. It means to take hold, to hold fast. It’s not about flexing your muscles. It’s about tightening your grip.
There are moments when the struggles of life feel bigger than we can handle. A painful diagnosis. A family crisis. The sudden loss of a job. A betrayal that shattered your trust. You wake up knowing that you’re stepping into something that feels overwhelming.
God doesn’t tell Joshua to pretend he isn’t afraid. He tells him not to let fear take control. “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Fear may come at you, but it doesn’t get to run the show.
Here’s the key: the command to be strong is tied to a promise. “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua’s strength didn’t come from his personality or talent. It was rooted in God’s presence. The same God who had been with Moses would now be with him. The same God who parted the Red Sea and fed Israel in the wilderness would walk with him into the unknown.
That’s what cḥazaq looks like in our lives. It’s not confidence in our own ability. It’s a confidence that God is near.
In the next verses, God connects strength to obedience. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law.” (Joshua 1:7 NIV) Strength means staying the course. Not turning to the right or to the left. Not drifting when pressure comes.
Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is to keep showing up. Keep praying. Keep loving. Keep doing what you know is right, even when you don’t see results or you’re criticized for it.
You may not be leading a nation into battle, but it’s likely you have your own Jordan River in front of you. A decision. A responsibility. A time in your life that you didn’t ask for. Chazaq doesn’t mean you suddenly feel fearless. It means you tighten your grip on God’s promises. You plant your feet in his Word. You take the next step, trusting that you’re not walking alone.
Be strong and courageous. Not because you’re strong enough. But because the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go.
Prayer: Lord, you know where I feel fearful and unsure. Strengthen my heart. Help me hold tightly to Your promises and not give in to fear or discouragement. Remind me that You are with me every step that I take. Help me to move forward with a confident trust in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day