“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
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Muggsy Bogues, Spud Webb, Nate Robinson and Avery Johnson are among the shortest players to ever suit up in the NBA. But what they lacked in physical stature they more than made up for in their strength and courage. Besides their height disadvantage, what did all these men have in common? Heart! They had the heart to overcome.
Overcoming physical or athletic challenges is one thing, but what kind of heart does it take to overcome the spiritual challenges brought by adversity? The pressure to perform, the fear of failure, and the frustration that comes can be overwhelming sometimes.
After Moses died, God called and empowered Joshua to lead Israel to take the Promised Land. Joshua was a powerful leader in the middle of extreme adversity because he trusted and obeyed the Lord God. When God told Joshua to “be strong” (Joshua 1:6-9), He didn’t mean physical strength, but spiritual. Spiritual power comes from trusting God for the outcome while remaining faithful during the process. Philippians 4:19 reminds us that “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Remember, the Lord will give you everything you need to accomplish what He has called you to do for Him today, whether that is accomplishing a God-given task, or enduring suffering in His name. Trust God and keep doing the right thing for the right reason, in spite of what you see or what goes against you. Put fear and selfishness aside. That’s a sign of spiritual strength!
— Jerry Birch, Cleveland Cavaliers chaplain
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