“Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!” (Joshua 1:9, NASB).

After Moses died, God commissioned Joshua to take leadership and military command over Israel and lead Israel into the promised land. But there were many evil and unfriendly people inhabiting the land that God promised to Israel. So, God assured Joshua of success in conquering the land for Israel because He would be with Joshua wherever he went.

It’s almost like God was giving Joshua a pep talk before the battle started because three times in this passage God tells Joshua to “be strong and courageous” (vs. 6, 7, 9). And then God’s admonition to Joshua is repeated by the officers of Israel’s army to reinforce God’s command (vs. 18).

But Joshua’s strength and courage was conditioned upon God’s enabling power that abides with him (vs. 5) and learning and knowing God’s law and obeying it (vs. 8).

There’s a war going on. And, the enemy of your faith is in possession of the world in which you live. So, you will have to fight many battles, maybe even a lifetime of battles, to possess God’s promises and accomplish His will.

Too often, when we are confronted with challenges, we become scared and afraid. We think we are too weak to conquer the enemy standing between us and God’s promises. So, we feel sorry for ourselves and whine and complain. Maybe we even turn and run.

But, God tells us to be strong and courageous when this world opposes us!

Accomplishing the assignments God has called you to do in this life isn’t always easy. In fact, it won’t be easy because the will of this world is against you when you are trying to do God’s will. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4, NASB).

Yet, God’s people should be people with strength of character because God is on our side. And, God has commanded you to obtain the promises He has made!

So study and pray and know God’s Word and you will learn what His plans and purposes are for your life. When you allow God’s Word, the Bible, to speak personally to you, you will know His assignment for you and what He wants you to do with your life .

Then, go out and do it, even fight courageously for it, if necessary! Because, God is with you wherever you go when you are accomplishing His will!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12, NASB)