According to the adage, when life gives us lemons, we are to make lemonade. That sentiment is not always easy—at least, not by our own strength. But by God’s strength, anything is possible (Matt. 19:26).
Nehemiah teaches that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). As the Israelites rejoiced in God and delighted in His presence, He revealed Himself as strong to help and defend them.
When facing life’s challenges, Jesus tells us to “Take heart” (John 16:33). Throughout Scripture, we see believers repeatedly encouraged to “Be strong and courageous” when difficult circumstances threaten their peace. In fact, the Old Testament records eleven specific instances of the command to “Be strong and courageous”:
- Moses to the Israelites: Deuteronomy 31:6
- Moses to Joshua: Deuteronomy 31:7, 31:23
- God to Joshua: Joshua 1:6, 1:7, 1:9
- The Eastern Tribes to Joshua: Joshua 1:18
- Joshua to the Israelites: Joshua 10:25
- David to Solomon: 1 Chronicles 22:13, 28:20
- Hezekiah to his Officers: 2 Chronicles 32:7
Joshua was stepping into leadership to lead Israel into the Promised Land. Solomon was inheriting responsibility for building the Temple. Leadership and life transitions require bravery, trust, and faith to take the next step—knowing God goes before us.
While using different words, Jesus echoes this same heart in the New Testament when He tells us to “Take heart!” and “Be of good cheer!” (Matt. 9:2, John 16:33).
But what does it mean to ‘be brave’ or ‘take heart’ in our world today?
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines brave as possessing the courage to face danger, pain, or difficult situations. My favorite definition, however, is simpler: someone willing to do hard things.
What stands out in these passages is that every command to take courage is paired with a promise: “I will not leave you or forsake you” (Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5; Isa. 41:10).
In Psalm 27:14, David reminds us twice to wait on the Lord. To wait on God is to look to Him with active dependence. Taking heart is simply choosing not to lose hope. When we place our complete trust in Him, a natural progression happens: waiting with hope leads to joy, and joy gives us the strength to be brave.
We cannot manufacture this courage on our own. We obtain it by delighting in God, resting in His presence, and taking Proverbs 3:5–6 as words to live by:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Faith Walk Ministries, Inc. 