Strong and Courageous 刚强壮胆
Dexu Xia
Strong and Courageous
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5
Each night, as young Caleb closed his eyes, he felt the darkness envelop him. The silence of his room was regularly suspended by the creaking of the wooden house in Costa Rica. Then the bats in the attic became more active. His mother had put a nightlight in his room, but the young boy still feared the dark. One night Caleb’s dad posted a Bible verse on the footboard of his bed. It read: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; . . . for the Lord your God will be with you” (Joshua 1:9). Caleb began to read those words each night—and he left that promise from God on his footboard until he went away to college.
In Joshua 1, we read of the transition of leadership to Joshua after Moses died. The command to “be strong and courageous” was repeated several times to Joshua and the Israelites to emphasize its importance (vv. 6–7, 9). Surely, they felt trepidation as they faced an uncertain future, but God reassuringly said, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (v. 5).
It’s natural to have fears, but it’s detrimental to our physical and spiritual health to live in a state of constant fear. Just as God encouraged His servants of old, we too can be strong and courageous because of the One who promises to always be with us.
What are your deepest and most persistent fears? How can meditating on God’s promises help you overcome your fear and anxiety?
Faithful Father, thank You that You’re always with me. Help me to remember Your promises and to trust in You when I’m afraid
刚强壮胆
我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在；我必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。—约书亚记1章5节
每天夜晚，当年幼的迦勒闭上眼睛准备睡觉时，总感觉自己被黑暗笼罩。房间里静悄悄的，偶尔木造的房子发出吱吱的声响，使整个房间更显阴森。接着，阁楼里的蝙蝠开始变得活跃，不时传来煽动翅膀的声音。妈妈在迦勒的房里放了一盏小夜灯，但他仍然害怕黑暗。一天晚上，爸爸在迦勒的床尾板上贴了一节圣经的经文：“你当刚强壮胆！不要惧怕，……耶和华你的上帝必与你同在”（约书亚记1章9节）。于是，迦勒开始每晚读这节经文，这句留在床尾板上的应许陪伴他度过许多夜晚，直到他离家上大学。
我们在约书亚记第1章读到，约书亚在摩西死后准备接任成为以色列民的领袖。上帝曾多次吩咐约书亚和以色列人要“刚强壮胆”（6-7、9节），可见这句话十分重要！面对未知的将来，他们难免会恐惧，但上帝却安慰他们说：“我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在；我必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。”（5节）感到恐惧是很正常的事，但若一直生活在恐惧中，将会危害我们身心灵的健康。上帝过去曾如此鼓励祂的仆人，同样地，你我也能因那位应许永远与我们同在的上帝而刚强壮胆，不再惧怕！
你最常感到害怕的是什么呢？
默想上帝的应许，如何帮助你克服恐惧和忧虑？
信实的天父，感谢祢一直与我同在。
求祢帮助我记得祢的应许，在害怕时仍信靠祢。