June 29th, 2026
by Keith Hassell
by Keith Hassell
Be Strong and Courageous: What God Says When Life Feels Overwhelming
Life is full of challenges that can leave us feeling weak, afraid, and uncertain about the future. But God's Word has something powerful to say to those who feel that way. From the pages of Deuteronomy to the battles of everyday life, the call is the same: be strong and courageous.
What Does the Bible Say About Being Strong and Courageous?
In Deuteronomy 31, Moses speaks to the entire nation of Israel and then directly to Joshua before they enter the Promised Land. His words carry a weight that still resonates today.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6 English Standard Version (ESV)
And again in verse 8: "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." - Deuteronomy 31:8 English Standard Version (ESV)
These were not just motivational words. They were a promise rooted in who God is.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6 English Standard Version (ESV)
And again in verse 8: "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." - Deuteronomy 31:8 English Standard Version (ESV)
These were not just motivational words. They were a promise rooted in who God is.
Why Does This World Require Courage?
This world is not for the weak and faint-hearted. Sin is like gravity. It is always trying to pull us down. Whether it is health struggles, broken relationships, grief, financial pressure, or the constant cycle of fear-driven news, there is no shortage of things trying to wear us out.
God did not break this world. We broke it through sin. But even in the middle of that brokenness, God has been working to restore blessing to His people. Through Abraham, He opened a path of hope that overcomes the curse with victory, help, and a future.
God did not break this world. We broke it through sin. But even in the middle of that brokenness, God has been working to restore blessing to His people. Through Abraham, He opened a path of hope that overcomes the curse with victory, help, and a future.
Does God Owe Us a Good Life?
This is an important question to settle. God does not owe us anything. He does not owe us good health, financial stability, or even heaven. If we received what we truly deserved, none of us would be standing.
Every morning is a gift. Every breath is evidence of His mercy. The right response is gratitude, not entitlement. As the Bible reminds us, the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.
If you are still alive, God still has a purpose for your life. You are here on purpose, with a purpose.
Every morning is a gift. Every breath is evidence of His mercy. The right response is gratitude, not entitlement. As the Bible reminds us, the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.
If you are still alive, God still has a purpose for your life. You are here on purpose, with a purpose.
What Does God Ask Us to Leave Behind?
Just as God called Abraham out of a land of idolatry and into a land of promise, He calls us out of the things that are destroying us. Drugs, alcohol, immorality, the love of money, the obsession with pleasure. These are not just bad habits. They are things that steal life.
God is not against us having things. But He is against things having us. When we fix our eyes on the resource instead of the Source, we lose our way.
Sometimes God removes things from our lives because they have become idols. Like a parent taking something harmful away from a child, He acts out of love, not cruelty. And when we finally release those things to Him, He can make our lives into something we always wished they could be.
God is not against us having things. But He is against things having us. When we fix our eyes on the resource instead of the Source, we lose our way.
Sometimes God removes things from our lives because they have become idols. Like a parent taking something harmful away from a child, He acts out of love, not cruelty. And when we finally release those things to Him, He can make our lives into something we always wished they could be.
What Can We Learn from Israel's Journey to the Promised Land?
God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham. But the fulfillment took over 400 years. Israel ended up in slavery in Egypt. Yet God never forgot His promise. He raised up Moses, brought His people out, and set them on a path toward everything He had spoken.
The lesson is clear. God's timing is not our timing. We live in a fast-food world that wants everything right now. But God is not slow. He is thorough. He is working on the fulfillment of His promises while also working on us so that we can handle what He has prepared.
The lesson is clear. God's timing is not our timing. We live in a fast-food world that wants everything right now. But God is not slow. He is thorough. He is working on the fulfillment of His promises while also working on us so that we can handle what He has prepared.
Why Does God Allow Trials and Testing?
James 1 puts it plainly. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." - James 1:2-3 English Standard Version (ESV)
The testing of faith produces patience. And while we are waiting, patience is working on us. God is building character so that when the promise arrives, we can steward it well.
Think of a parent who makes a child work to earn a bicycle rather than simply handing it over. The parent's eyes are not on the bicycle. They are on the character of the child. God's eyes are on who we are becoming, not just what we are receiving.
Faith that craters under pressure is not real faith. But faith that says, "My God is bigger than this challenge and I am not giving up," that is the kind of faith that comes out of the fire like pure gold.
The testing of faith produces patience. And while we are waiting, patience is working on us. God is building character so that when the promise arrives, we can steward it well.
Think of a parent who makes a child work to earn a bicycle rather than simply handing it over. The parent's eyes are not on the bicycle. They are on the character of the child. God's eyes are on who we are becoming, not just what we are receiving.
Faith that craters under pressure is not real faith. But faith that says, "My God is bigger than this challenge and I am not giving up," that is the kind of faith that comes out of the fire like pure gold.
What Is the Difference Between Fear and Courage?
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the ability to look fear in the face and take on the challenge anyway.
David did not defeat Goliath because he was physically stronger. He did it because he knew his God was bigger. "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts." - 1 Samuel 17:45 English Standard Version (ESV)
David was strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10 says it directly: "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." - Ephesians 6:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
We have no strength of our own. But in Him, we have everything we need.
David did not defeat Goliath because he was physically stronger. He did it because he knew his God was bigger. "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts." - 1 Samuel 17:45 English Standard Version (ESV)
David was strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10 says it directly: "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." - Ephesians 6:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
We have no strength of our own. But in Him, we have everything we need.
Is God Calling You to Step Up as a Leader?
God is not looking for the most qualified. He is looking for the willing. He qualifies those He calls.
Moses argued that he could not speak. God said He made His mouth and would fill it. Joshua had to follow one of the greatest leaders in history. Yet God called him and equipped Him.
Some people are hiding in the shadows right now, sensing a call but holding back out of fear. Leadership takes courage. It means being willing to be an example when others are not. It means stepping into children's ministry, youth work, serving in the nursery, volunteering in whatever capacity is needed, even when it feels small.
Jesus modeled this clearly. If you cannot wash feet or serve tables, you are not ready for the bigger things. Faithfulness in small things is the path to greater responsibility.
Moses argued that he could not speak. God said He made His mouth and would fill it. Joshua had to follow one of the greatest leaders in history. Yet God called him and equipped Him.
Some people are hiding in the shadows right now, sensing a call but holding back out of fear. Leadership takes courage. It means being willing to be an example when others are not. It means stepping into children's ministry, youth work, serving in the nursery, volunteering in whatever capacity is needed, even when it feels small.
Jesus modeled this clearly. If you cannot wash feet or serve tables, you are not ready for the bigger things. Faithfulness in small things is the path to greater responsibility.
How Do You Keep Going When You Are in a Hard Season?
Do not quit. Do not magnify the problem. Magnify the God who is bigger than your problem.
When Jesus told His disciples to cross the lake, He did not promise a calm journey. He promised a destination. "Let us go across to the other side." - Mark 4:35 English Standard Version (ESV)
You may be in the middle of a storm right now. But you are not going under. God said you are going to the other side. This is not the last chapter of your story.
God does not waste the journey. He is preparing a people who know how to appreciate what He gives them. Celebrate where you have been delivered from. Stay prepared for where you are going.
When Jesus told His disciples to cross the lake, He did not promise a calm journey. He promised a destination. "Let us go across to the other side." - Mark 4:35 English Standard Version (ESV)
You may be in the middle of a storm right now. But you are not going under. God said you are going to the other side. This is not the last chapter of your story.
God does not waste the journey. He is preparing a people who know how to appreciate what He gives them. Celebrate where you have been delivered from. Stay prepared for where you are going.
Life Application
This week, identify one area of your life where fear has been louder than faith. It might be a relationship, a financial situation, a health concern, or a calling you have been avoiding. Choose one specific, concrete step of courage you can take in that area, whether it is a conversation you have been putting off, a place to volunteer, or simply spending time in prayer and Scripture instead of scrolling through fear-driven news.
Ask yourself these questions as you reflect:
Ask yourself these questions as you reflect:
- What am I holding back from God that He has been asking me to release?
- Am I focusing more on the obstacles in front of me than on the God who goes before me?
- Is there a place where God is calling me to lead or serve that I have been avoiding out of fear?
- Do I truly believe that God's promises for my life are still active, even in this season?
God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for willing ones. Be strong and courageous, not because the obstacles are small, but because the God who goes before you is greater than anything you will ever face.
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