“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Jeshuren (Deuteronomy 33:5,26: Some translations say “Israel” though Jeshuren is the correct Hebrew word) was a poetic and endearing way to refer to Israel.

• חֲזַ֣ק (châzaq): Be strong, keep going, don’t quit!
• God was speaking directly just to Joshua.
• God does not want us to live in fear, but God does not condemn us for our humanity.
• There is no possibility of going through life without being afraid.
• Our brains are wired by God to keep us safe.
• Fear is not always a choice.
• Fear and trauma can change our neurobiology, and our neurobiology can, in turn, cause anxiety.
• God’s command to not be afraid is not a condemnation but an encouragement.
• God promises to personally be with us forever.
• Hypervigilance about keeping commands perfectly can cause our brain to feel unsafe.
• God wants us to rest in Him, and for Him to be the source of our peace.

We can rest in Jesus and give Him our fears (to the best of our ability), knowing He has compassion and empathy for us. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16