Purposeful Living Series| August Week 3- Stepping Forward with Courage
Updated: Aug 15
Verse for the week:
"..... Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."( Joshua 1:9, NKJV)
Our August journey began with recognizing God's direction. Last week, we reflected on how God prepares us before promotion, often using seasons we do not fully understand to develop the skills, character, and wisdom we will need later.
But there comes a time when preparation must become action.
Mid-August to September is usually when many of us step into new seasons. As an academic, see it at the start of a new school year: new positions, new students, additional responsibilities, and sometimes entirely new environments. These opportunities can be exciting, but they can feel overwhelming and sometimes intimidating.
In our weekly verse, we see that Joshua had spent years serving alongside Moses. He had learned, observed, fought battles, and witnessed God's faithfulness. Yet when the time came for him to lead, all that preparation did not remove the uncertainty of entering new territory.
God gave him a clear instruction: "Be strong and courageous."
In my own experience, when I eventually stepped into a new role after years of preparation, I quickly discovered that being prepared did not mean everything would be easy.
There were new responsibilities, new expectations, and situations that required me to learn, adapt, build relationships, and make decisions. I had preparation behind me, but I still needed courage to step into my new role ( I provide details in the forthcoming full devotional).
That season taught me an important lesson for "Stepping Forward with Courage":
Preparation does not remove the challenges. It prepares us to face them.
This lesson will come handy this new academic!
Have you prayed for something, only to find that when the season finally arrives, you begin to doubt your capabilities? Uncertainty does not mean we are not ready. Unfamiliarity and unpreparedness are two different things.
Courage does not mean having all the answers or feeling completely confident before we begin. In scripture, courage comes from trusting that the God who directed us and prepared us will also be with us as we step into our season.
You may be standing at the edge of your new season today.
You may not know everything that lies ahead, but if God has prepared you and is leading you forward, you do not have to face it alone.
Pause and Reflect
Take a few quiet moments with the Lord this week and consider:
In which areas of my life is God asking me to step forward in this season?
Is fear or uncertainty causing me to hesitate? What am I afraid of?
What is one step I can take this week to move forward with courage?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for directing my steps and preparing me for the opportunities you have given me. When fear or uncertainty causes me to stumble or hesitate, like Joshua, remind me that You are with me. Give me wisdom to recognize Your direction and courage to move forward with Your leading. Help me use what I have learned, continue growing where I need to, and trust You with what I cannot control. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go Deeper
To go deeper in this journey, I invite you to explore:
Growing in Christ means learning to recognize God's direction and trust Him enough to follow Him. Our Faith becomes visible and active when we move from believing in God to obeying Him.
This Week...
Identify one area where you know you need to move forward, but fear or uncertainty has caused you to stumble or hesitate.
Bring it before God in prayer and trust God to give you courage for every step in this reason.
Remember
God's preparation gives us a foundation, but His presence enriches us with wisdom and courage to keep moving forward.
The God who prepared you for the opportunity will also give you strength to step into it.
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