When was the last time that fear stopped you in your tracks? I remember the first time I was asked to speak in church. Everything inside me wanted to say yes, but I was overwhelmed with fear. Even though I had God’s promise that He would be with me, I let the fear in, wrapped it up in excuses for why I couldn’t do it, and said no. Then I felt a black cloud of discouragement cover me and realized that the enemy was using fear to keep me from what God wanted to do in and through my life. I had to unwrap the fear and discouragement from my list of excuses and recognize them for what they really were.
I’ve seen so many people give up on what they really want to do because of fear and discouragement. Fear of failure if they step out of their comfort zone. Fear of criticism if they don’t compromise and go along with what others are doing. Fear of embarrassment in public speaking. Fear will raise its ugly head in many forms, and especially in all the things you think you lack. “I’m not good enough, talented enough, or experienced enough. I can’t do it!” The enemy will use what people say and do to you as well as your circumstances to discourage you and stop what God has started in your life. But at the root of it all is fear.
In Joshua 1, Joshua and the nation of Israel stood at the border of the Promised Land, where forty years before they had failed to go in and conquer because of fear and discouragement. All the same obstacles to God’s promise remained—powerful nations with armies, fortified cities, and giants. God said to Joshua, “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). God broke it down in the simplest terms: “You need to be strong and courageous, because your biggest enemies are fear and discouragement, not armies and giants.”
God’s remedy to Joshua is the same remedy He gives to us. He is saying, “Don’t let fear become part of your identity. Don’t let discouragement define you. The strength and courage to fight fear and discouragement comes when you take hold of My Word and obey it. Keep My words always on your lips, and discouragement and fear must flee. Get My Word into your thinking and meditate on it until it drops down into the very depths of who you are.” He says He will be with you wherever you go. And just as God brought Joshua to possess the Promised Land, He will bring you to possess His promises too.