What I Learned From Reading Joshua Chapter 1

This year I’ve been trying to read through the Old Testement. I’m going to be completely real and say that it’s definitely not an easy thing to do. I don’t understand a lot of what I’m reading; some of the chapters can feel completely unrelatable to my life; and some of it is just . . . well . . . weird.

I recently finished reading the book of Job, and I was flipping through my bible, wondering which book I would start next (I’m not reading them in order). I knew nothing about the book of Joshua but for some reason it stood out to me, so I began reading the first chapter.

What I found so intruiging about this first chapter was how EMPOWERING it is! Basically, God tells Joshua that he has chosen him to lead His people into the promised land. Joshua knows it won’t be an easy journey, but God promises him that He will ALWAYS be with him, and that He will help him.

You see, that night that I started reading the book of Joshua, I was worried and nervous. I had a doctor’s appointment the next morning that I was dreading, and this first chapter was really comforting.

It says, “Be strong and courageous,” approximately four times in that one chapter! God was commanding His people to be strong and courageous. It’s like He’s telling them that there is no room for fear in His presence. He says to Joshua, “I will not fail you or abandon you,” and, “I will be with you wherever you go.”

He will be with us when we enter into a season of trial. He will be with us in sickness. He will be with us in brokeness. He will be with us when we need to be brave, and He’ll give us strength and courage.

Do you ever feeling like God is telling you to do something but fear is preventing you from doing it? Maybe you feel He wants you to mend a broken relationship. Maybe He wants you to give to your church but you don’t know how you can possibly afford to. Or maybe He wants you to change jobs, or move, or apologize to someone you wronged. But you’re too afraid of everything that could go wrong.

God wants you to know that He is with you WHEREVER you go. Nothing will EVER change that. When you enter that place of fear – that doctor’s office; that meeting; that classroom for a test – God has already been there, and He will help you be brave through it all. And if He is for us, who can be against us?

Joshua 1:9 – This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”