Today we are going to look at a few Scriptures where God tells His servants to have courage. Very often I get afraid. I get nervous. Crazy thoughts go through my head. My body gets tense. My stomache gets tight and I am afraid. It is at those time I tell myself that God is good. I tell myself that God is in control. I start to feel peaceful. My body relaxes. I can smile and take joy in the Lord.
Let us look at a few Scripture passages where God had to tell His servants to have courage.
Daniel 10:18 – God tells Daniel to be encouraged and strong.
“Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!”
Daniel had just been shown a vision. This vision terrified Daniel. Daniel became weak and white with fear. He couldn’t speak. He fainted. He was overcome with fear. God spoke to Daniel and said: Be strong now, be very strong.
Joshua 1:9 – God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua had just been told by God to invade Canaan and take over the land. God strengthens Joshua by telling him to be strong and courageous.
Sometimes we get a vision from the Lord. This vision can also be called a burden. This vision looks good. Sometimes the visions and the ideas we get from God scare us. We want to do them and see the results but we are afraid to move forward in the vision.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was afraid when the angel Gabriel came to her and told her that she was going to have a son named Jesus.
Luke 1:30-31 – Mary was afraid when the angel Gabriel appeared to her
“The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus.”
Mary was told that she would give birth to a son. This son would be the Messiah. He would die on the cross for our sins. Yet, Mary had to be told – do not be afraid.
Sometimes when God is giving birth in our lives to a great vision we get afraid. I remember years ago we were afraid the Somalis would attack our house because I was out witnessing a lot. I was afraid once when Somalis started to attack us, but fortunately stopped, when I was at a basketball court witnessing to them. Sometimes we get afraid. God does not was us to be afraid. Fear is a negative emotion that disturbs the plans of God for us. We have to be strong and courageous to carry them out.
Isaiah 6:5 – Isaiah was afraid when God’s presence was there
Sometimes we get afraid when we are praying and the power of God is so powerful that we have to fall down on our knees or face to try and hide from His awesome power and glory. This is what happened to Isaiah.
“Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”
Jesus and God tell us many, many times in the Bible: Do not be afraid. We need to remind ourselves about this. We need to remind each other about this. We need to have a wonderful peace and joy in our hearts that can only come by getting close into the presence of the Lord.