God said it.  He said it to Joshua.  He said it three times (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9 & 18).

The third time God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, He also asked him, “Have I not commanded you?”   Doesn’t that sound to you like God wanted Joshua to understand that since He had commanded him to act, that there was no reason to be timid or afraid?  God’s authority is all we need to plow through our fears.

This world can be a scary place for those who are trying to follow the Lord.  Those who oppose the evil that is embraced, endorsed and practiced almost everywhere are ridiculed, attacked, labeled, ostracized or otherwise persecuted, and often publicly.

Stand up for what is right and you will be labeled self-righteous.  People will foolishly pass judgment on you in this way and then hypocritically condemn you for “judging”.

You may be called a prude for having the courage to believe that having sex before or outside of marriage is morally wrong.  I would say “sinful” but our present culture refuses to consider any practice to be a sin except for the act of calling something a sin.

You may be called a “homophobe” by bullies who defend the perversion of homosexual practices.  They hope to silence you, trying to shame for your failure to accept the disgusting deeds they espouse.  How backwards that these heroes of perversion intimidate as shameful those who follow the clean, wholesome ways of God.

It is as Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth said:

If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! Therefore do not fear them..... Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

- Matthew 10:25-26 & 28

Yes, be strong and courageous, “Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”, Joshua 1:9. Amen!