Courageous Encouragement

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. –Joshua 1:9 ESV

At the end of the movie The Wizard of Oz, the cowardly lion discovers that he himself is not actually cowardly. He just needs an awareness of the strength within him to be bold and daring in the face of adversity. His “courage” was there all along. As we declare victory in the name of Jesus over all that would stand in our way, we take comfort and consolation in knowing that the Lord and His army of angels surround us in every moment. It is by the Lord’s boldness and daring on our behalf that we find the strength to face any situation. It is by, in, and through the glory of Christ that we can be courageous! The Apostle Paul wrote, “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 ESV). Today, with Jesus in our hearts, we need to be courageous and encouraged, knowing that no problem or setback can bring us down. As the lion in the story, we can be strong and stand boldly in the Lord’s mighty power.