From: Gerald Carnes
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 10:45 PM
To: Lowell Clyburn <lowell.clyburn@gmail.com>
Subject: "Be Strong and Courageous" Pt 1 of 2 - Wednesday April 22, 2026
“Be Strong and Courageous” Pt 1 of 2:
People refer to normal days as “uneventful.” This means nothing out of the ordinary happened. The adults went to work, the kids went to school, maybe there was afterwork or after school activities, but at the end of the day, everyone was home safe and sound. Soon it’s time to go to bed so everyone can get up in the morning for a repeat of the day before.
Normal days can be taken for granted if we aren’t careful. Coming home at the end of the day without any problems can also be taken for granted. Way to often life is lived routinely until the routine is disrupted. There are folks who left their homes this morning but returned with worry, stress, and uncertainty because of an unexpected crisis. That’s the twists and turns of living life. Some days are good, others not so good, and some downright gut wrenching.
After Moses died, the Lord appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. The Lord told Joshua, “Everything I promised Moses, I pass on to you” (Joshua 1:3). Knowing the trip would be filled with trials, difficulties, and battles to fight, God gave this new leader some encouraging words, “Be strong and courageous; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will never leave nor forsake you” (1:5-9).
These are comforting words from God the Father to one of his followers, but they are words the Lord gives to us each day of our lives. If we have a personal relationship with Christ, we can rely upon the Lord’s promise, “I will be with you.”
Joshua was told, “Be strong and courageous” four different times in the first chapter of Joshua. We are living in a day where battles, situations, and circumstances of life must be faced with spiritual strength and courage. We must determine to be strong and courageous in our decision making, our activities, the decisions we make, and the relationships we build or need to break off. Are you living each day knowing the Lord is walking beside you, leading you, or holding your hand? He said, “He’d never leave you.”
Pastor Carnes
