Read Joshua 1:1-9 NIV
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “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. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. 9 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.”
Key Verse Joshua 1:9 NCV
Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.”
The words in the NCV change here a little. God says be strong and courageous three times previously in Joshua 1:6-7, but here He says be strong and brave. Although courage and bravery may seem very similar, I think it is important to point out the differences. Courage involves feeling fear but acting anyway, whereas bravery is facing danger without fear. This is reinforced with the Lord’s statement, “don’t be afraid…” Why? Because He continues to remind Joshua (and us) that He will be with us wherever we go. We do not need to be afraid, because He is always with us.
I have struggled with anxiety (being afraid) my whole life. I can remember the fears I had as a child, fears that have continued into my mid-fifties. But as I draw near and closer to the Lord, spend time with Him and in His word, He is helping me. His unconditional love and care for me bring me comfort, give me an unexplained peace, and leave me feeling secure, and even at times boost my confidence. For me, it started with my word of the year in 2018, “Believe,” and leading up to my word for 2025, “Peace.” Over the years, the Lord has very patiently asked me to believe, trust, and obey Him. He has provided me with truth, patience, love, and peace.
In that time, I have drawn closer to Him, and He has shown me this past year that the opposite of fear is peace. Through various ways throughout the year, the Lord has brought me peace. He has replaced every anxious thought with His truth, leading me through His Word, reminding me of His love, His promises, and His presence. He has shown me patience and reminded me that I can trust Him.
My prayer for you, my friend, is for you to be surrounded by the love and security of our Father as you step out in courage and find peace in His presence. What will your word for 2026 be?
