18 Aug W3 | Be Courageous

Posted at 10:58h in September, Topics 2025 by

REFERENCE BIBLE VERSES

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭| 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. (ESV‬‬)


1 Peter 5:7 | casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (ESV)

OBJECTIVE

To remind us that we, too, can be strong and courageous—not because of our own ability, but because of the One who promises to always be with us.

CONTENT

FAITH OVER FEAR

  • Too often, we let fear—not faith—guide our decisions. We hesitate to follow God’s calling because the unknown feels overwhelming.
    2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
  • Our physical eyes tend to fixate on visible obstacles, causing us to forget that God is always working behind the scenes. Though invisible, He is never absent.
  • Think of Peter: he walked on water as long as his eyes stayed fixed on Jesus. But the moment he focused on the storm, fear overtook him, and he began to sink (Matthew 14:22–33). Like Peter, we face storms today—financial pressure, broken relationships, or an uncertain future. The choice is ours: will we fix our eyes on Jesus or drown in fear?
  • Faith and fear cannot coexist. Fear distorts our view of God and magnifies our problems. The enemy uses fear to hold us back, but faith moves us forward. Faith reminds us of God's power and promises, opening doors only He can unlock. Walking by faith means trusting the One who never fails and surrendering our own strength to His.

TRUST THE ALL-SUFFICIENT GOD

  • When prayers seem unanswered, it's tempting to lean on our own understanding. But Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
  • Our understanding is limited—but His wisdom is infinite. When the Israelites were trapped at the Red Sea, they saw no way forward. Yet God parted the waters through Moses (Exodus 14). He didn’t remove the obstacle; He made a way through it.
  • Our God is fully capable. He spoke the universe into existence, parted seas, and raised the dead. His strength never fades. His wisdom never fails. His promises remain true. Whatever we face today, we can bring it to Him—He is more than able.

COURAGE COMES FROM SURRENDER

  • Courage begins by admitting we can’t do it all on our own. While the world values self-reliance, God calls us to find strength through surrender. Trusting Him means letting go of control and depending on His wisdom and power in every situation.
  • 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” We were never meant to carry the weight of worry ourselves. Holding onto anxiety is like saying, “I trust myself more than I trust God.” Pride can keep us from letting go, but God lovingly invites us to lay our burdens at His feet.
  • When Joshua succeeded Moses in leading Israel to the Promised Land, God didn’t say, “Be strong because you’re capable.” He said, “Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
  • Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the presence of faith in the midst of struggle. And faith grows when we stop trying to control what only God can.

CONCLUSION

True courage isn’t something we generate ourselves. It’s built through faith in God, rooted in trust in His sufficiency, and perfected through surrender to His will. Whatever you face—difficult decisions, fear of the future, or seasons of uncertainty—God calls you to live courageously. Not by your own strength, but by resting in the presence of the One who walks with you through every storm.

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • How can you walk in greater confidence knowing that you are empowered by God?
  • What does “walking by faith, not by sight” look like in your everyday decisions?
  • What’s one courageous step of faith you’ve taken in the past?

REFERENCES