Be Strong and Courageous

Be Strong and Courageous
Written by Bethany Leiby

“Be strong and courageous…. be strong. Do not dismay….do not be frightened. Be strong…..Be strong.” I mumbled these words as I sat in the waiting room of my first “big girl” interview. I was fresh out of high school and was looking for somewhere or someone to hire me for the summer before I headed off to college. I was TERRIFIED. What if they didn’t like me? Was I under qualified? Do I really want to work here? These were the questions that were rolling around in my head. Then, (what I now believe was God) I received a text, simply saying “Joshua 1:9”.  I quickly searched the verse and read quietly to myself,
“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. -Joshua 1:9.”
I repeated those words quietly to myself throughout my interview. (Praise God, I got the job!)

Fast forward to today, my life is a full pace sprint towards the future. Every time I turn around, some LIFE CHANGING thing is occurring: Graduation from college, new house, job searching, wedding planning, meetings, events, showers, etc. I knew 2022 was going to be a big year for me, but I didn’t know how scary it was going to be. All these things are “good”, but the fear of the unknown and the undone is beginning to weigh heavy on my heart. The other day, I received a text simply saying “Joshua 1:9”.

What a reminder for me, and for you! Each step we take, big or small, God is with us. We have NOTHING to fear because he is with us! So this is what I will be saying, quietly to myself as I keep plugging forward, “be strong and courageous…” he is with me.

Change is hard, but it’s how we learn and grow & with God, nothing can stop us!