"be strong and courageous"

“Keep going,” he said, as I inched my way backward towards the edge of the cliff.

I wanted to continue over the edge, but my legs wouldn’t let me. Truth be told, none of the rest of my body wanted to go either. I froze and that was that.

Disappointed, the instructor released me from my harness and I retreated to safer ground. No rappelling for Chris today.

And yet there went mom, over the edge and down the side of the mountain. Imagine the humiliation of her 14-year-old boy. Mommy had the guts to go, but her poor baby boy didn’t.

“Would you like a warm bottle of milk while I’m gone, son?”

That memory came to mind years later as I sat inside a small plane with two other suckers. In a few minutes we would voluntarily jump out of the plane and parachute—hopefully—to the ground below.

I willed the childhood memory away and avoided looking at the tiny objects down below through the gaping door. My heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest and I had trouble catching my breath.

A few minutes later, though, I was on the ground, having successfully conquered—at least temporarily—my fear of heights. Was it fun? Oh yeah. Have I ever done it again? No way.

You see, why be courageous a second time? Especially when you might die?

Actually, I’m not sure courage had anything to do with what I did. After all, I was motivated by a haunting childhood memory and a desire to prove my machismo.

Now Joshua, there’s a guy who showed courage. Do you remember the story? Moses is gone and now it’s Joshua’s job to lead His people into the Promised Land. Before he goes, the Lord gives Him a pep talk.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."1

Did you notice how many times the Lord tells Joshua to “be strong and courageous”? Three times. I’m thinking the Lord wants to make a point.

If you know what happens, Joshua is "strong and courageous" as he leads his people to victory time and time again. You’d be hard pressed to find a better biblical character to model yourself after than Joshua. He’s an awesome, God-fearing man.

Yet if we’re not careful we might miss the secret to Joshua’s success. It’s not because of a divine pep talk. It’s because of his obedience to the “Book of the Law.”

If Joshua “meditates on it day and night,” and if he’s “careful to do everything written in it,” “then”—and only then—will he “be prosperous and successful.”

Success, then, is tied directly to obedience to God’s Word. And courage is as well. If we want the Lord to be with us wherever we go—if we want the courage and assurance that His presence gives us—we must be obedient.

While some may disagree, I believe that real courage doesn’t come from a humiliating childhood memory. Nor does it come from machismo.

True courage comes from a reliance on our heavenly Father and obedience to His Word. Then, and only then, can we have the confidence that He will be with us every step of the way.

So, do you need courage for a daunting task? Rely on the Lord and obey Him.

Then do your thing by being "strong and courageous." It worked for Joshua and it’ll work for you as well.

1  Joshua 1:6-9