Do you ever wake up discouraged? I know I do. It doesn’t mean I went to bed that way. In fact, the opposite might be true.
Still and all, I can wake up in a discouraged mood. Often this mood is a spiritual attack, but sometimes it’s just me being impatient over God’s promises concerning the work He has given me to do.
I know the Israelites certainly weren’t feeling courageous when Pharaoh’s army bore down on them and the Red Sea stretched out in front of them. If they weren’t feeling courageous, I guess that means they were feeling dis-courageous (scared out of their wits is more like it).
And like the Israelites had to step into the water before it began to part, so I, too, must take a step of faith when discouragement (or any other negative emotion) rears its ugly head. That step is to seek God for help, and then by faith do whatever He tells me to do (see John 2:5).
When we have a word from the Lord, we can move forward confidently and in faith. We are acting on His word.
God will accomplish His plans for my life (and yours).
Psalm 138:8a NLT tells me, “The LORD will work out his plans for my life.”
A favorite verse for many concerning God’s plans for our lives is Jeremiah 29:11 NLT:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.’”
He chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and nothing catches Him by surprise! He is all-knowing.
God not only chose us, but also planned good works for us to do while we walk this earth. We don’t always see how we fit into the bigger picture, but He does. What’s important is that we follow His plan.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
He tells me to be strong and courageous.
Imagine how Joshua felt as he took leadership of the Israelites and prepared to enter the Promised Land. He’d seen a whole generation of Israelites die in the desert. He’d been Moses’ right hand man for 40 years. Undoubtedly, Joshua had seen Moses on his good days and his bad. The task before Joshua could have easily overwhelmed him.
God knew the trepidation Joshua must have been experiencing. He set Joshua on solid ground with these words:
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous…Be strong and courageous…This is my command—be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5–9.
Between verses 5 through 9, He told Joshua three times to be strong and courageous. God says it a fourth time in verse 18. He’s telling us the same. And we can be because He is with us as He was with Moses.
In doing the plans God has for me, I can work in confidence because I am doing His will for my life. That’s not to say that Satan or my own doubts don’t assault me. But…
God wants you and me to persevere.
“If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses?” Jeremiah 12:5
That is to say, if little difficulties beat us, how will will we manage when something huge comes our way?
God doesn’t expect us to accomplish His plan by ourselves in our own strength. No, we draw our strength from God and gain wisdom to fulfill His plan for my life by seeking Him through His Word, the Bible, and through prayer.
With God we can be strong and courageous in accomplishing the plans He has for our lives. If we fail to accomplish God’s work, it doesn’t just reflect badly for us, it reflects badly for God.
There was a point when God got so angry with the Israelites He told Moses He was going to destroy them. But Moses reminded God of His fame among the Egyptians. They knew the all the miracles God performed. Moses said, “Now if you slaughter all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say, ‘The LORD was not able to bring them into the land he swore to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness.’ Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed” (Numbers 14:15–17 NLT).
God will defend His Word.
We can be strong and courageous because we know God wants His purpose for our lives to be accomplished in the world as a witness to Him. For His glory, not ours.
I’ll leave you with this final verse.
“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world” (1 John 4:4 NLT).