Hope Through Every Season: Why Joshua 1:9 Will Strengthen You

Dezheng Yu July 11, 2025

142 3 minutes read

🍂 When the Path Ahead is Foggy: Finding an Anchor in the Unknown ✨

Have you ever stood on the edge of a new chapter in your life and wanted to run back to the old one?

Maybe it’s a new job, a new diagnosis, the birth of a child, or the loss of a spouse. The page has turned, and you don’t know what the next paragraph says. You feel small. You feel unprepared.

This is exactly where Joshua stood in Joshua 1.

Moses—the man who split the Red Sea, the man who spoke to God face-to-face—was dead. Now, Joshua had to lead a nation into a land filled with walled cities and giants. He wasn’t just facing a “new season”; he was facing an impossible mission.

But in that moment of paralyzing inadequacy, God spoke.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage…”

This wasn’t a suggestion; it was an infusion of power. God didn’t promise Joshua an easy trip; He promised him Presence. And that promise is the only thing that can carry you through the changing seasons of your life.

Part I: The Command to Courage 📜

Strength is a Choice, Not a Feeling 💪

God repeats the command to be “strong and courageous” three times in the first nine verses of Joshua. Why? Because Joshua was likely trembling.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” —Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

God commands courage because fear is the natural human reaction to the unknown. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it is obedience in the presence of fear.

God was telling Joshua: Do not let the size of the giants dictate the size of your faith.

The Compass in the Fog 🧭

How do we stay strong when the season changes? By looking at the map.

In Joshua 1:8, God ties success directly to the Book of the Law. He tells Joshua to meditate on it “day and night.”

When the season is foggy, you don’t look at the weather; you look at the compass. God’s Word is the only thing that doesn’t change when the temperature of your life drops.

For more on how Scripture guides us through the dark, read Discover the Bible’s Wisdom: Psalm 119:105 Will Light Your Way.

Part II: Trusting God When the Way is Unclear 🌫️

Storms With Purpose ⛈️

We often think a “hard season” means God has looked away. But trials are not signs of His absence; they are opportunities to experience His closeness.

Just as the Israelites followed the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, we are called to trust the unseen leading of God.

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” —Romans 5:3-4 (KJV)

Your current storm has a purpose. It is refining your character. It is burning away the dross of self-reliance so that your hope is anchored in Christ alone.

For more on finding peace in the valley, read Psalm 23 Devotional: The Lord is My Shepherd in Daily Life.

Part III: 3 Common Misconceptions About “Be Strong and Courageous” 💡

Misconception 1: “I have to conjure up strength from within myself.”

Correction: The command is based on the reason: “For the Lord thy God is with thee.” Your strength doesn’t come from your willpower; it comes from your awareness of God’s presence. You are strong because He is there.

Misconception 2: “If I have faith, I won’t be afraid.”

Correction: God commanded Joshua not to be afraid (or “dismayed”), acknowledging that the situation was terrifying. Feeling fear is human; letting fear stop you is disobedience. Faith is moving forward while your knees are knocking.

Misconception 3: “Prosperity means I will be rich.”

Correction: When God tells Joshua he will have “good success” (v. 8), the Hebrew implies “acting wisely” or “prudence.” It isn’t a promise of money; it’s a promise that if you follow God’s Word, you will navigate life with divine wisdom and spiritual victory.