“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
The Messy Middle of Transition
Transition is rarely comfortable. It is the “ashy” season of life—the gray, dusty space between a door that has closed and a door that hasn’t quite opened yet. For Joshua, this was a moment of massive upheaval. Moses, the only leader the people had ever known, was gone. The Promised Land was ahead, but it was filled with giants and walled cities.
In our lives, transition looks like a new career, a move to a new city, or even the internal shift of healing from a past hurt. We often want God to give us a 10-step blueprint or a satellite view of the finish line. Instead, He gives us a command: Be strong and courageous.
The Presence Over the Plan
God’s recipe for finding “beauty” in the midst of uncertainty isn’t a detailed map; it is a Divine Presence. Notice that God doesn’t explain how the walls of Jericho will fall or how the Jordan River will part in this moment. He simply reminds Joshua of Who is going with him.
- Courage is a Decision: Courage is not a feeling that drops out of the sky. It is a decision made in the presence of fear. It is the act of looking at your “ashy” circumstances and deciding that God’s Word is more solid than your worries.
- The Antidote to Discouragement: Discouragement is the “slow leak” of the soul. It happens when we focus on how far we have to go rather than who is walking beside us. God explicitly says “do not be discouraged” because He knows that transition is a marathon, not a sprint.
- The “Wherever” Promise: The most beautiful part of this verse is the word wherever. Whether you are in the valley of loss or on the mountain of victory, the Presence doesn’t change. You don’t have to wait until you “arrive” to be at peace; you can be at peace right now because He is here.
A Simple Truth
The unknown is only scary when you think you are facing it alone. You may not see the path through the dust of your current transition, but the One who created the path is holding your hand. You don’t need to see the future to have courage; you only need to know the One who holds it.
Walking in Strength
- Check Your Focus: When anxiety rises today, ask yourself: “Am I looking at the giants or the Guide?” Intentionally shift your focus back to the “Wherever” promise.
- Speak to Your Fear: Use Joshua 1:9 as a declaration. When a thought of discouragement enters your mind, say: “I am strong and courageous because the Lord my God is with me.”
- The Next Small Step: Courage doesn’t always look like a giant leap. Sometimes, it just looks like doing the next right thing with a quiet heart. What is one small step you can take today in faith?
Prayer
Lord, as I face the unknowns of this week, replace my discouragement with Your strength. I admit that I often feel overwhelmed by the ‘ashes’ of transition and the fear of what’s next. Thank You for not just giving me a map, but for giving me Your hand. I lean on the promise that You are with me in every step, in every room, and in every challenge. I choose to be courageous today because I know I am not alone. Amen.
