“Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
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 1:6-9 ESV

In this series, we will be looking at three characteristics of STRONG & COURAGEOUS women. Strong and courageous women are those who know God’s power in their lives and rest in His strength. They are women who are not deterred by danger or pain but stand brave because they are in a beautiful relationship with The Lion of Judah.

If you are not feeling strong or courageous today, by the end of this series, you will see that in Christ, you have everything you need to stand strong and courageous!

Imagine for a moment that you are the assistant to the president of a large corporation. You have been working under this president for forty years. She has been your friend, your mentor, your adviser, and trusted companion as you faced the ups and downs of growing the corporation.

As the president's assistant, you watched her manage over two million employees. The vast majority of them complain constantly, disobey her commands, and give her grief at every turn. And yet, you've watched her handle them with grace and compassion. Together, you have cried over the employees, prayed for them, tried to do the best you could by them, and you've watched as she led this army of workers to great heights.

Now, the time has come for a great acquisition. You are about to enter new land as a company. Your boss plans to enter into a larger, greater, more profitable territory. It's exciting, but scary at the same time. New paths are always difficult and this one is about to be the biggest thing your corporation has ever seen.

The papers are drawn up and are ready to be signed. As her loyal and capable assistant, you have the contracts ready. You've emailed the two million staff letting them know that today's the day. You've got your most professional suit and Mont Blanc pen ready to go into the meeting when you receive an urgent email.

"The president of your corporation has died. We are sorry for your loss. We know she was your mentor and advisor. You, Assistant, are now the new president of this corporation. Please be at the contract meeting at 10 am to sign the contracts for the new acquisition."

And there you are . . .

Numb.
Lost.
Alone.
Confused.
Feeling Unworthy.
Mourning.
Doubting.
Afraid.

And it is here we find Joshua.

PART ONE: Strong and Courageous Women Hold Onto God’s Promises.

For this study, we are going to dig into Joshua 1:5-9. Joshua is a man who was strong and courageous and much can be learned from his life as we learn to live with bravery and strength in the face of difficult circumstances.

The Call of Joshua.

In the above example, Moses is the president and Joshua the assistant. For forty years he was Moses' assistant. He watched as Moses dealt with over two million Israelites. He watched as Moses interceded for them despite their constant grumbling, complaining, and turning from God. Moses was his mentor, spiritual advisor, and friend.

Joshua gets an "email" from the Creator that says, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel." Joshua 1:2 ESV

How do you think Joshua felt? In this passage of Scripture Joshua is told THREE TIMES to be strong and courageous. Why did God repeat Himself?

Perhaps:

The size, difficulty, and duration of the task ahead (bringing all these people into a new land) was frightening for Joshua.
He watched Moses lead a "stiff-necked" people for forty years. Now, he was the man to lead them! I don't know about you, but I would be weary of the task even before it started!
He lost his spiritual friend, mentor, and advisor. The man who by God's power led Joshua out of slavery was now dead. He was mourning the loss of Moses.

And still, God said . . . Be strong and courageous.

My Friend, God will not call you to a task without enabling you to perform that task. If you have His Spirit in your heart and are submitted to His will, nothing is too hard for you to accomplish because nothing is too hard for God. (Jeremiah 32:27)

God gave Joshua . . . HIS PROMISE.

"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them." Joshua 1:5-6 ESV

The first time we see "be strong and courageous" is when God gives Joshua the promise. "No one will be able to come against you. Just as I was with Moses, your mentor and friend, I will also be with you. I am going to give you this Promised Land because I promised it to your forefathers and I am a God who keeps my promises."

Joshua had the promise and because he had God's promise, he could stand strong and courageous. His promise was a sure victory.

God gave you . . . A PROMISE.

What promise has God given to you? Maybe you are feeling inadequate to see that promise through to completion. My Friend, God's promise to you is a sure victory. It is through His strength and not our own that we can see His promise for our lives come to pass.

2 Peter 1:3-4 says that “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature . . . "

You have great and precious promises, My Friend, and you can stand Strong and Courageous that God will fulfill all His promises to you!

Take a minute and think about the promises God has given to you.

Maybe He spoke to your heart or maybe a promise was given to you through a prophetic word. Maybe you are saying, “God has never given me a promise.” That is okay. There are thousands of promises in God’s Word. This article will give you great and precious promises that God has for you in every book of the Bible!

The first characteristic of strong and courageous women is that they know God’s promise on their life is a sure victory. Just as the Lord was with Moses and Joshua, so will He be with you. He is holding your hand and giving you His strength to see those promises through to completion.