How often as men can we get caught up in the mundane day to day and forget what it means to be courageous? I know I can. But I’m sure it can be said for most of us that at one point or another in our lives we have crossed the road to the side of choosing courage over fear. If we are being honest, it is built into our DNA to step up and be courageous, but it’s not always easy.
Getting down on one knee to ask a woman to marry you takes courage, bringing a newborn home from the hospital takes courage, quitting a job to take on a new challenge takes courage, saying sorry when you were wrong and hurt someone else takes courage, and there are so many more examples. So why is it that sometimes we choose to be courageous and sometimes we don’t? I don’t know if I have the answer, but I know where to look.
When I think of courage in scripture my mind immediately goes to the book of Joshua. In the first chapter alone the word courageous is used 4 times. To lay a brief foundation, Joshua was a close assistant to Moses during the exodus and, then after, the long voyage of the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land. A place promised to Moses and the Israelites by God, although Moses would die before finishing the voyage, at which point Joshua was appointed by God to lead the people the rest of the way.
This is where the book of Joshua begins and where we find this word courage repeated a number of times. And for good reason, Joshua was taking on the challenge of leading a group of hundreds of thousands of people who are, quite frankly, sick and tired of traveling through the wilderness. I mean, they’ve been doing it for decades at that point.
Joshua 1:6 says, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.”
So the first big point of this passage that I think is important to look at is:
1. It Takes Courage to Lead
As men of God we are built to lead. We are called to be spiritual leaders in our homes. We are called to be leaders in our marriage by loving our wives as Christ loves the Church (Ephesians 5:25). We are called to lead our children by raising them up in the way that they should go (Proverbs 22:6). We are called to be leaders in our communities by loving our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:26) and treating others as we would like to be treated (Luke 6:31).
These are not always easy tasks, and that's why they take courage. Unfortunately, we find many men shying away from courage and leaning toward fear and laziness. We find families who are lost spiritually and looking for guidance only to find that the way of the world is leading them further into darkness. We find communities torn and people going to war with each other over silly things because love for one another is nowhere to be found. So why are so many men lacking courage? I’ll get to that shortly, but first, my second point.
2. It Takes Courage to Follow
In Joshua 1:7 it says, “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.”
As men we are called to follow. I’ve heard it said, how can you expect to lead if you’re not willing to be led. I’ve also heard it said that the best leaders must first know how to be good followers. The great news is, we have an almighty, all knowing God who is constantly trying to lead us. But guess what, as simple as it sounds to follow this God who cares for us so much, we are really good at screwing this part up.
How often do we allow our own agenda to get in the way of spending time with the Lord; how often do we second guess the prompting of the Holy Spirit to the point of talking ourselves out of whatever it is; how often do we try to do things in our own strength instead of asking God for help? I don’t know about you, but I’m guilty of all of these things, many times over. It takes courage to follow God, especially when we are being challenged in ways that are uncomfortable for us. No doubt about it, being a follower takes courage, so where do we get this courage? Let’s see…
3. Courage Comes From The Lord
In Joshua 1:9 it says, “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.”
No need to over complicate this one, the closer you are to God the more courageous you will become. Men who distance themselves from God begin to lack courage. As a result their lives and the lives of those around them begin to suffer. Men who stay close to God will find the courage needed to lead others well.
Men who distance themselves from God find it difficult to hear his promptings. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 tells us, “do not quench the Spirit”. God is right there, trying to communicate with us through the Spirit he put inside us, and he is pretty clear that he gave us that Spirit to help us. But we can spend so much time doubting that voice and giving into fear instead of being courageous, knowing full well that God has told us that he will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). But, It is hard to follow someone you if you don't trust them, ouch. Men who stay close to God find courage to follow him wherever he leads.
Where is your courage being challenged as a leader? Where is your courage being challenged as a follower?
I pray that your courage be strengthened and/or restored through our Father so you can lead those around you well and follow Him faithfully all of your days!
Written by: Brandon Kress
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