Day 30/40 Strength and Courage in God

Margit Kresin
Nov 5
7 min read

The Source of True Courage

Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

We often encounter situations that are challenging, frightening, or even dangerous—whether real or imagined. In these moments, we have a choice: to turn away or to step forward and face the risk. True courage is only needed when there is something at stake.

In Hebrew, one word for courage is ametz (אָמַץ) God commands Joshua, “Be strong and courageous (chazak v’ametz).” After Moses passed away, Joshua needed both physical and emotional strength to lead Israel. God repeated this encouragement to Joshua three times as he prepared to guide the people into the Promised Land.

“Be strong and courageous (chazak v’ametz),” God tells Joshua. After Moses’ death, Joshua needed physical and emotional strength and encouragement as the new leader of Israel. So, God encourages Joshua three times with these words as he prepares to lead the nation into the Promised Land.

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social strength. God calls His children to develop and demonstrate these qualities as we move forward from one stage of glory to the next.

Understanding Chazak: Strength in Hebrew

The Hebrew word for strength (chazak), begins with the deep, throaty “ch” (chet) and ends with the firm “k” (koof), with the assertive “z” (zayin) in the middle. Even its sound conveys power and determination.

But what kind of chazak does God want us to have, and when should we use it? Life often presents us with situations that require courage and strength.

Peter, the disciple from Galilee, showed boldness when he drew his sword and cut off a soldier’s ear to protect his beloved Messiah (John 18:10). Yet, in that moment, Peter mistook impulsive zeal for true, God-given strength—acting without first seeking God’s guidance.

Jesus / Yeshua, on the other hand, fully understood His purpose in the Father’s plan. He drew on spiritual strength (chazak) by trusting and obeying His Father in Heaven. Because of this, Yeshua willingly allowed Himself to be arrested, submitting to God’s will.

How to Receive Divine Courage

Between God’s repeated commands to Joshua to “be strong and courageous” (chazak v’ametz), He reveals the key to accessing that strength:

Never stop reading this Book of the Law* . Day and night you must think about what it says. Make sure you do everything written in it. Then things will go well with you. And you will have great success. ... Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. I am the LORD your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.(Joshua 1:8–9)

Joshua’s courage to face dangerous battles and mighty enemies was rooted in God’s presence with him. This spiritual strength would lead to victory, but only if Joshua kept God’s Word close—meditating on it, treasuring it in his heart, and living it out in obedience.

Yeshua offered His disciples an even greater encouragement:

If you love me, keep my commands*. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:15–17)

Our love for God leads us to obey Him, and in response, He empowers us to follow Him more faithfully. The more we rely on His strength and put it into action, the more courageous and confident we become.

Let’s look at how this unfolded for the disciples as they began to share the love of Yeshua, starting in Jerusalem.

Sandwiched between two of the commands to be strong and courageous (chazak v’ametz), God explains to Joshua how to access that strength and courage:

Courage to Share the Gospel

After Peter and John healed a lame man in Jesus’ name, the Sanhedrin warned them to stop or face further punishment. Instead of retreating, the disciples united in prayer, asking God for boldness to continue proclaiming His love and healing through Jesus Christ (Messiah Yeshua):

Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word. Stretch out your hand to heal. Do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ (Acts 4:29–30)

Following this prayer of unity, the place supernaturally shook.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)

Sometimes we need to ask the Holy Spirit to refill us with His strength. And sometimes, we need to ask others to band together with us in a united call for His power to fulfill our mission. Let us cal out, “Chazak, chazak v'nitchazek!”, which means “Be strong, be strong and may we be strengthened.” Or “Let us strengthen one another!”

The exact words, “Chazak v’nitchazek חֲזַ֤ק וְנִתְחַזַּק֙” are also found in 2 Samuel 10:12 when King David and Israel’s army are surrounded in front and to the rear. David’s commander, Joab, tells his partner in command:

Be strong. Let’s be brave as we fight for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what he thinks is best. (2.Samuel10:12)

True strength, according to Scripture and tradition, is meant to be shared—empowering us to support one another and boldly fulfill God’s purposes.

Courage to Disciple Nations

Every follower of Jesus / Yeshua is called to share the Kingdom with those around them, and this mission requires God’s strength and courage to face its challenges.

Yeshua Himself faced death threats for healing the sick and was criticized for spending time with sinners. Paul and Silas were imprisoned for setting a captive girl free, and Mary endured her sister Martha’s disapproval for choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet.

Each day, we have opportunities to love God and others—whether at home, work, school, or even the grocery store. Though we may encounter criticism, rejection, or persecution, we can rejoice in knowing we have shown courage for the Lord.

As Peter encouraged new believers in Yeshua:

Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the terrible things happening to you. The trouble you are having has come to test you. So don’t feel as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be joyful that you are taking part in Christ’s sufferings. Then you will have even more joy when Christ returns in glory. (1 Peter 4:12–14)

The Power of Encouragement

We need to guard our hearts so that discouragement does not replace the presence of God’s Spirit within us. When we allow discouragement to take hold, it becomes difficult to take even the smallest steps toward fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives, and we fall short of our calling as His ambassadors.

Joshua could not afford to let discouragement stop him. He had a mission to lead Israel into the Promised Land, and his focus needed to remain on God’s presence wherever he went.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

Discouragement takes away our courage, but encouragement empowers us. Receiving encouragement from God and from fellow believers is essential for our growth as disciples and for helping others grow as well.

Encouraging words will help us to move forward, yet, even the most uplifting words cannot compare to the power of God’s Spirit living in us! When we are weak, He is strong—His strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

This is far greater than ordinary strength. While the world teaches us to rely on ourselves, Yeshua reminds us, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Call to Action:

As you reflect on today’s message, take a moment to invite God’s strength and courage into your life. Whatever challenges you face, remember that you are not alone—God is with you. Step forward in faith, trusting His promises. Reach out to someone who needs encouragement today, and share a word of hope or a prayer. Let God’s strength flow through you, and be a light to others on their journey!

Remember:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

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*Explanations:

Book of the Law

The Book of the Law generally refers to the collection of laws and commandments given by God to the Israelites, as recorded in the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. These books are:

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

More specifically, the term "Book of the Law" often points to the laws found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and especially Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, Moses reviews and repeats the laws for the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. Sometimes, "the Book of the Law" refers to a physical scroll containing these laws, which was kept beside the Ark of the Covenant (see Deuteronomy 31:24-26).

In summary, the Book of the Law is the written record of God’s commandments and instructions for His people, forming the foundation of Old Testament law and practice.

Commands

The "Old", but still valid, 10 Commandments: God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai as foundational laws for His people. These commandments include instructions such as:

I am the YHWH your God. I brought you out of Egypt. That is the land where you were slaves. Do not put any other gods in place of me.
You shall not make idols.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Honor your father and mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.