Be Strong and Take Courage

“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go.” – (Joshua 1:9, HCSB)

“Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – (Joshua 1:9, ERV)

This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am you God, the Eternal One, and I will remain with you wherever you go. – (Joshua 1:9, VOICE)

The strength and courage that God calls us to is the very thing that He equips us for. He does not say be strong and then expect us to muster up strength on our own; He supplies it. The same is true for courage. With God, we need not fear, for He goes before us, remains with us, and sees us through whatever comes our way. His presence is promised wherever we go, so there is no place that we can wander that God is not with us. There is much comfort in this, as the world can be a place that causes us to question how to continue forward in the direction we have been called. God knows we are subject to fear and discouragement. He is greater than any trial that lies before us, and He grants us the strength and courage that we need to press on. May we ever seek the Lord to strengthen us and replenish our resolve, for it is through Him that we can continue through both calm and chaos.

Be strong, take courage,

the Lord’s ever near;

our Help and our Hope,

the calmer of fear.

He grants us the strength,

to rise and press on;

calls forth our courage,

’til each day is done.

Choose trust in the Lord,

for He will supply;

all that is needed,

and strength to choose try.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Source of strength and courage. Thank You that we do not have to somehow muster up such things to press on, but rather You come alongside us and equip us with all that we need to be strong and courageous. Forgive us for our fearfulness. Teach us how to trust You in all things and at all times. Lead us to find our strength and courage in You. Show us how to love those around us in ways that offer strength and courage to others too. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and trust You to supply all that we need to press on. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

The Lord my God was with me, and that gave me courage. – Ezra 7:28b

Trust in the Wait

Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord. – (Psalm 27:14, HCSB)

Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help. – (Psalm 27:14, ERV)

Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God. – (Psalm 27:14, MSG)

There is a delicate balance in this, for to wait for the Lord AND be strong and courageous, means that we need to trust the Lord and His leading and keep moving forward without running ahead of where we are meant to be. It takes courage to keep pressing on, especially when you want to quit or walk away. What God calls us to do, He will see us through, even when we are uncertain of how it can be done. God is worth waiting for. His plans are always greater than ours, and His ways lead to so much more than we could hope or imagine. It is the wait in between that requires us to be strong and brave. May we ever seek the Lord to be our strength and courage, and the One to direct our every path. 

Choose wait on the Lord,

Take courage, be strong;

Not in your own strength,

But in God, press on.

The Lord is faithful,

To supply our needs;

He leads and guides us,

Our hopes He exceeds.

So, seek Him with hope,

Trust in His great care;

He provides for us,

So we too can share.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You remind us to trust in You in strength and courage, for You are faithful forever. Forgive us for our frustration with Your timing, as it rarely is the same as our own. Thank You that Your timing is perfect, and You see beyond what we can see. Teach us to trust in You and to stay the course until You direct us to turn, detour, or abandon the route. Show us how to love those around us in ways that extend Your goodness, hope and love, and grant courage to press on. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we wait on You with strength and courage, knowing that You are faithful always. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. – Psalm 37:5

Faithful to Finish

The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. – (1 Thessalonians 5:24, NIV) 

The One who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete His work in you. – (1 Thessalonians 5:24, TPT) 

For the God who calls you is faithful, and He can be trusted to make it so. – (1 Thessalonians 5:24, VOICE) 

God is faithful to His promises. What He calls us to, He sees us through. Often, the things that God calls us to do are far too difficult, or beyond our scope of capability. When God is with us and for us, the seemingly impossible becomes possible. He can do far more than we could ever ask or imagine when we trust in Him. A perfect example of this is the road my mom has been navigating for nearly the last year and a half. After a stroke that initially stole control of the entire right side of her body and her independence, mom is now back in her own home, able to do far more than she thought possible, only a year ago. God has faithfully provided all that is needed to make this a reality. He orchestrated the right people and circumstances for such a time as this. Mom has wonderful help each day to assist with the things that are too difficult with a stubborn right arm, and the freedom, confidence, strength and independence to do all that she is able on her own. I still believe that He is not finished either. God has even more in store for mom than she could hope or imagine. The healing she is walking in (literally and figuratively) now, is but a glimpse of all that He will still do. She has been called to things that He created her to do, and He is faithful to see her through. I eagerly watch in anticipation for all that lies ahead. May we ever trust in God to finish all He began, for He is faithful and worthy of our trust. 

For each one of us, 

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography. ❤

Has been called by name; 

Created, chosen, 

And loved, all the same. 

To what we are called, 

God is faithful, true; 

Strengthened and equipped, 

To love and to do. 

Help us to trust You, 

Despite what we see; 

You, God, are able, 

To lift up, set free. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness and grace, and for Your faithfulness forever. Thank You that what You call us to do, You see us through, as You are faithful to fulfill what You promise. Forgive us for our fears and doubts when the road ahead seems impossible. Teach us to trust You more, for You are the God who makes all things possible in You. Show us how to love, encourage, support and lift up all those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to be faithful to finish all that You have begun and called us to do. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present 

For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. – Psalm 33:4