March 7, 2026

Daily Devotional:

“Strength for the Unknown”

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever yougo."

We often treat courage like a feeling we have to summon from within, like a battery we hope is charged before a big event. But in this passage, God doesn'tsuggest courage; He commands it. Joshua was standing at the edge of a massive transition. His mentor, Moses, was dead. He was tasked with leadingmillions of people into a land filled with giants and fortified cities. If anyone had a right to feel "under-qualified," it was Joshua. God’s antidote to Joshua’s fear wasn't a pep talk about Joshua’s own skills.Instead, God shifted the focus to His own presence.

"Be strong and courageous"; This isn't about bravado however, it’s about mental and spiritual posture. Discouragement is the slow leak that drains ourstrength. God warns us to guard against it. There is no "dead zone" for God’s presence. Whether you are in a boardroom, a hospital room, or your living room, the geography doesn't change the Promise.

What transition or challenge is making you feel under-qualified? Where has discouragement started to seep in? Acknowledge it, then consciously hand that specific fear back to God. How would your day change if you truly believed God was standing right next to you in your most stressful moment today?

Joshua 1:9 means that courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of God. It’s the assurance that no matter how big the "giant" in front of you is, the God behind you is bigger, and He has already signed up to go through the trial with you. You don't need to know what the "Promised Land" looks like yet. Youjust need to know Who is walking into it with you.