Be Strong, God Is with You
Month 11: Standing Firm in a Tough World · Memory Verse
Today's Scripture
Read together: Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Memory Verse
“Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””— Joshua 1:9 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 1 Thessalonians 1–5
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time.The Heart of It
Moses had died. Now Joshua had to lead a whole nation into a land full of giants and walled cities. That's a frightening job. So before Joshua took one step, God spoke to him. Three times He said, "Be strong and of good courage." But notice what God doesn't say. He doesn't say, "Be brave because you're strong enough." He says, "Be strong and of good courage… for the Lord your God is with you." The reason for the courage is never us. It's the promise that comes right after. God Himself goes wherever we go.
Did you catch the little question at the start? "Have I not commanded you?" God isn't only suggesting courage. He's commanding it. Why? Because fear isn't just a feeling. It's a choice about whom we trust. When we're afraid, we're believing the problem is bigger than God. Courage says, "God is with me, so I don't have to be afraid." This is a verse to keep in your pocket. Keep it for the first day of school. Keep it for the doctor's office, the dark bedroom, the hard conversation. Wherever your feet go this week, God's promise goes too.
Around the Table
God says, "Be brave! I'm with you." When you feel scared, God is right there holding you.
Let's do it: Make strong muscles and say it loud: "Be strong! God is with me!"
God told Joshua to be brave three times — not because Joshua was tough, but because God promised to be with him.
Let's talk: What's something you've been a little afraid of? How does this verse help?
God commands courage. That means fear can be a trust issue, not just a feeling. Courage isn't pretending you're not scared. It's choosing to believe God is with you anyway.
Let's go deeper: Why do you think God repeated "be strong and of good courage" so many times to Joshua?
💬 Conversation Starter
If you could carry one Bible verse in your pocket all week, when this week do you think you'd reach for this one?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
How do we know God keeps the promises in this verse? Because He kept this exact one. Joshua did lead Israel into the land, city by city, just as God said. A God who has kept His word in real history is a God we can trust with our fears today ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
We often read as a pep talk. But it's actually a commissioning verse. God is handing a man an impossible assignment. And He grounds the man's courage entirely in God's presence, not in personal ability. There's freedom in that for a tired father. You don't lead your home because you're qualified, calm, or have it all figured out. You lead because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Memorize this one out loud with your kids this week. Not as a slogan, but as a confession. The verses our children hear us cling to in our own weakness are the ones they'll cling to in theirs.
Draws on: Tony Evans, Kingdom Man.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for the promise to be with us wherever we go. When we feel afraid, help us choose to trust You and be strong, because You are right here with us. In Jesus' name, amen."
Courage isn't about being strong enough. It's about knowing God is with me.