Be Strong and Courageous

“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

This verse has carried me through some of the most intense and vulnerable moments of my life. When I didn’t know where else to turn, I turned to truth — the living, breathing Word of God. And Joshua 1:9 was the scripture I clung to.

Before stepping onto the course for American Ninja Warrior, while the cameras rolled and the lights were blinding, I would recite it out loud — not just to hype myself up, but to anchor my heart. In labor, when my daughter’s heart rate was dropping and fear began to creep in, I whispered it under my breath three times. Moments later, her heart rate returned to normal. God was with me, and His Word kept me calm.

But here’s what I’ve learned: Joshua 1:9 isn’t the only time God tells us to be strong and be courageous. The Bible echoes this command over and over again — not because God forgot He already said it, but because we need to hear it again and again. Life is hard. Fear is real. But God’s promises are unshakable.

Here are just a few times God tells us to be strong and courageous:

• Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
• Deuteronomy 31:7 – “Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him… ‘Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land…’”
• Deuteronomy 31:23 – “The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: ‘Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them…’”
• Joshua 1:6 – “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”
• Joshua 1:7 – “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you…”
• 1 Chronicles 28:20 – “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God… is with you.”
• 2 Chronicles 32:7 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria… for there is a greater power with us than with him.”
• Psalm 31:24 – “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

God doesn’t say feel strong. He doesn’t say try to be courageous. He says be strong. Be courageous. That means we don’t have to wait for confidence to arrive — we move forward in faith even when we’re shaking. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s action in the face of it.

The Word of God is more than just encouragement — it’s our weapon. It cuts through anxiety, doubt, fear, and every lie that tries to convince us we can’t make it. If you’re facing something hard today, remember: you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to trust the One who does.

Whatever you’re walking through right now, put it in God’s hands. He loves you. He chose you. He made you for this life, and everything you face has a purpose — even the pain. Often, it’s not until we look back that we see how the struggle shaped us, refined us, and led us exactly where we were meant to go.

If it’s not good yet, it’s not the end.

So today, lift your head. Ground yourself in the truth. And no matter what lies ahead — be strong and be courageous. You were made for this.