I've been thinking about discouragement...

I've been thinking about discouragement. 

I'm attempting to read through the whole Bible this year and I recently started the book of Joshua. Immediately, I came to one of my favorite verses in the whole bible: Joshua 1:9.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Now, I've read this verse before many times and found it very challenging when faced with hard decisions, big life changes and frightening news. But as I read it this time, in light of my current situation, sitting at home crossing events off my calendar, learning how to homeschool my kids, feeling the weight of discouragement threaten to take me down, it feels even more important. I may not be marching into a physical battle as Israel was when God gave them this command, but my daily life still requires strength and courage.  Yours does too. 

The word "encourage," comes from an old French word that conveys the idea of "putting in courage." The picture here is of a vessel being filled up with courage. We all need an extra dose of courage these days - we cannot let this pandemic steal that from us. We can be encouraged - filled up with courage, not because of anything we can do - but because God promises to be with us wherever we go. What a promise! I'm praying this over our community - be strong and courageous, do not be discouraged!