Be Strong and Courageous

 

Every now and then, I pick up Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional and reflect on the wise words found inside. I haven't read from it in quite a while, but yesterday I noticed the book on our bookshelf and flipped it open to May 11th's evening read.

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"Only be thou strong and very courageous." -Joshua 1:7

"Our God's tender love for His servants makes Him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God does not think so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord does not love to see our countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king's court dressed in mourning; this is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning as we are; but still He would have us put off the spirit of heaviness and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. if he be fearful and fainthearted, it will dishonor his God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic that soon spreads among the Lord's flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your courage is kept up Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Savior, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you: but cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labor is light to a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, "be thou strong, and very courageous."
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Oh, how challenging this is! How many times have I been overcome with worry, fear, or grief? How many times have I dwelt on those emotions, allowing them to effect the way I live instead of giving them over to my Savior? And oh, how it must grieve His heart when we give in to unbelief in this way.

"But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me."
~Micah 7:7-8

What hope we have in Christ! May we ever keep our eyes on Him, for when we do, how can worry or grief remain? Our merciful Father holds us in the palm of His hand; what do we have to fear?

"O let my trembling soul be still.
And wait Thy wise, Thy holy will!
I cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see,
Yet all is well since ruled by Thee!"
~Charles Spurgeon