Be strong and of good courage!

Sometimes things don't run as smoothly as desired at our workplace. Sometimes we have an argument with a partner and don't know any further. Sometimes we question our own future, in desperation.

There are hundreds of situations in life which cause us to be despondent, moments when we don't know how to continue and don't see it ever getting better again. We feel depressed, sad, despondent and sometimes also miserable.

I also sometimes find myself in such situations when I just feel bad. Every now and then, I crawl into my shell, build walls around me, and hope that nothing can touch me any more.

However, today's scripture speaks of exactly these situations, when we simply want to isolate ourselves. “Be strong and of good courage!” How often do we lack the strength?

But our scripture does not stop at this command, “be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed”. If it were only this easy. Sometimes we lack courage and power to come up against something. Sometimes we are just feel helpless.

However, we need to continue reading this scripture. God Himself speaks to Joshua, who was despondent because Moses died and he was left alone with the nation: “for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

We don't need to get out of our pit in our own (failing) strength. No-one can pull himself, in his own power, out of the pit. Here God acts. It is He who supplies us with new strength, who comes to our assistance and helps us.

With God at our side, we are able to begin fighting against all that which oppresses us. With Him we are able to jump over walls and get out of our shell. He gives us the power we lack, He gives us the courage which we don't have.

When we have Him at our side, we need not fear!

So I wish you a blessed day in the power of our Lord.

Rainer Gigerich