“Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:14 NASB
And Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Hebrew word for courage means “to show oneself strong.” Webster defines courage as “mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.” It also implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or an extreme difficulty. It was Napoleon Hill who said, “Before success comes in any man’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat and perhaps some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of men do.” I believe that courage is a quality that you develop as you draw close to God. First of all, remember how He has provided for you and protected you in the past. When everything around you seems to be falling apart, here came God and you made it. Secondly, be aware of how God takes care of you now, in the present moment. Psalm 46:1 NASB says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” And thirdly, He helps you in the future. Joshua 1:5 NASB says, “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” Wow, when you realize that God has been there to help you in the past and He’s doing it now and will do it in the future, you can’t quit. And you won’t quit. The word “quit” is not in your vocabulary.