“‘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
Strength and Courage
There’s a lot of fear and discouragement in the world right now. We’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, lives are being lost, businesses and jobs are being lost, sporting events are postponed or canceled, and we’re being forced to stay home and keep our distance from others.
But isn’t it comforting to read that God is with us wherever we go? And in the midst of uncertainty, He calls us — commands us, actually — to be strong and courageous.
He is not caught off guard by what we are going through; He’s well aware of what’s happening. We’re the ones who are caught off guard; we’re the ones who don’t understand. But when we are surprised and confused, He is with us. And not only is God with us, He is commanding us to be strong and courageous.
So give God your fear. Give Him your discouragement. Those do nothing to help us during this time. He is the only one who can turn all that into strength and courage. And that’s exactly what we’re asking Him for right now.
God, would You give us the strength to endure these tough times? Would You especially give strength to anyone who may be feeling sick or ill during this time?
And would You give us the courage to be Your light during this darkness? Would You give us the courage to help others, reach out to others, encourage others, and lift others up during this time? Give us the courage to speak boldly of You and Your goodness at all times, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.
Thank You, God, that You are with us, and we turn to You today — as we should every day.
— Jon Ackerman, Sports Spectrum managing editor
If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com.
