“Be Strong and Courageous”

June 15, 2026 Daily Devotional: “Be Strong and Courageous”Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." ​Imagine standing on the edge of a massive transition. You are about to step into a completely new season, facing giants and obstacles you’ve never encountered before. Your long-time leader and friend is stepping down, and the future feels incredibly uncertain. ​This was the exact reality for the Israelites. Moses was preparing them to cross into the Promised Land, passing the mantle ofleadership to Joshua. Fear would have been the easiest, most natural response. But right in the middle of their anxiety, Moses delivers these powerful words: "Be strong and courageous." The people were facing massivelogistical, military, and emotional shifts. Fear was the most natural human response. Moses gave them this command not because their circumstances suddenly looked easy, but because their God was greater than their circumstances. ​Notice that Moses doesn't tell them to muster up strength from their own abilities, wealth, or military strategy. The command to be brave isn't self-help advice; it is rooted entirely in the character and presence of God. You can be strong because of who goes with you. ​The verse breaks down into a beautiful promise of God's presence: ​"He goes with you:" You are not leading the charge alone; He is already ahead of you in the unknown. ​"He will never leave you:" In the moments you feel isolated or overwhelmed, His presence remains constant. ​"Nor forsake you:" He will not abandon you when things get difficult or when you make a mistake. This is the reason they can be brave. Their confidence isn't rooted in self-help; it is rooted in God's presence. The phrasing implies that God isn't just walking beside them; He is going ahead of them. He is already in the future they are dreading, preparing the way, clearing the path, and fighting ontheir behalf. You don't have to be strong enough to handle tomorrow because God is already there. ​Whatever "them" or "there" you are facing today—whether it's an intimidating project, a difficult conversation, an uncertain financial season, or a personal battle—the promise remains unchanged. Courage isn't the absence of fear; it is the absolute confidence that God is closer to you than the problem you are facing. What is the specific "giant" or uncertain situation making you feel afraid or hesitant right now? How does shifting your focus from the size of your problem to the promise of God's presence change your perspective today? At its core, this verse is a declaration that true courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of God. It means that your security is determined by who is with you, not by what is against you. It shifts our focus away from the size of our problems and onto the magnitude of our God. When you know you are completely backed by a God who refuses to let you go, fear loses its grip on your heart.