Strong and Courageous When Life Feels Frozen

Scripture Reading

Joshua 1:6–9 (CSB)

“Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance. Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Devotional Reading

This ice storm may leave us feeling stuck and uneasy. Roads will become unsafe, power may be uncertain, and normal routines will suddenly be interrupted. There is a sense of waiting—wondering when things will thaw and life will move forward again.

That kind of waiting is not unfamiliar in Scripture. When God spoke these words to Joshua, Israel was standing on the edge of the unknown. Moses was gone. The future felt heavy. The land ahead was promised—but not yet possessed. Into that moment, God did not give Joshua a detailed plan. He gave him something better: His presence.

Three times the Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. Not because Joshua felt fearless, but because fear and uncertainty were very real. Biblical courage is not the absence of worry; it is choosing faith and obedience while uncertainty remains.

This ice storm reminds us how quickly our sense of control can disappear. But God’s command to be strong and courageous is grounded in this unchanging truth: the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Even when progress feels frozen and plans are paused, God remains faithful, present, and at work among His people.

Prayer

Lord, when I feel unsettled and discouraged, remind me that You are with me. Give me strength when I feel weak and courage when I feel anxious. Help me to trust Your promises, obey Your Word, and rest in Your presence today. Amen.

Question to Ponder

Where do I most need to practice strength and courage right now, and how can I remind those in my circle of influence that the Lord our God is with us wherever we go?