Being strong isn’t always about the amount of weight you can lift or the size of your biceps.  Strength can be determined by your dedication to a project – your ability to encourage another person – your willingness to tackle the problems of life.  Courage is much like strength, but it relies more on faith and trust that our plans aren’t in our own abilities.

When we’re placed in circumstances that seem impossible, we need both of those traits.  When we face insurmountable obstacles – when relationships break up – when we lose someone close to us – when disease overtakes, there is only one thing we can truly depend on and that’s the knowledge that our lives have already been mapped out by God Himself.

When we need the courage to take a stand for our country – against the lies and hate which disrupt our journey – when no one else is willing – when only a majority has a voice – someone needs to take a stand.  When values and morals are being challenged – when churches preach only a feel good philosophy along with prosperity preaching – when children are being sold into sexual slavery, who do we turn to for the courage to fight against those things?  Would I be capable of taking a stand? Would I be willing to risk my life to save someone else?

It seems so difficult a concept, especially when we’re daily bombarded with words that tell us to put ourselves first. We’re taught from little on that we should be confident in ourselves .

When David gave his son, Solomon instructions on how to build the temple, the task must have seemed impossible. It was designed to serve as God’s house of worship for His chosen people. David told Solomon to follow God’s plan which held certain specifications, measurements, types of building materials and ornamentation.

I Chronicles 28:20 “Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.”

When God determined to send a flood to cover the entire planet, He gave Noah a very specific blueprint for an ark to house two of each kind of living creatures and his own family.  The people thought he was crazy.  Noah and his family were ridiculed, but they pressed on to do God’s will.

When we place God first, trust in His wisdom and have faith that He will carry us, we’re not guaranteeing a life of ease.  We’ll be laughed at for our beliefs.  We’ll struggle through adversity in life.  We’ll face danger and death, but we know that God is in control of every aspect of our living and our dying.

His Word is filled with encouragement to be strong and courageous.  That encouragement is only possible with God at the head of our lives.