Fear Not Friday: Joshua 1:6 - Physical Strength

We reflect on Joshua 1:6 and the call to be strong and courageous when facing giants, fortified walls, and the shadow of great leaders. We hold to God’s promise of presence and pray for strength to cross our own Jordans.

The moment you’re asked to step up right after a legend leaves can feel impossible. That’s where Joshua stands—on the banks of the Jordan, staring at giants, fortified cities, and the long shadow of Moses—when God speaks a steadying word: be strong and courageous. 

We unpack the tension between fear and calling, exploring how God’s promise of presence changes not just our feelings, but our forward motion.

We walk through the two reports from the twelve spies and why the minority report from Joshua and Caleb still speaks to modern leadership, parenting, entrepreneurship, and ministry. The facts didn’t change—giants remained giants and walls remained high—but the conclusion did: if God is with us, we can move. 

That shift from paralysis to obedience offers a blueprint for anyone who feels spent, uncertain, or underqualified. We talk about the weight of replacing Moses, the reality of exhaustion, and the quiet confidence that grows when you anchor to God’s words: I will never leave you, I will never forsake you.

You’ll hear a simple framework for crossing your own “Jordan”: ask for strength before you feel it, name the giants without bowing to them, and step forward because presence, not bravado, carries you. 

Whether your next step is a hard conversation, a new role, or a long-delayed decision, this reflection invites you to trade the majority report of fear for a faith that is honest about risk and bold about God’s faithfulness.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, please share it with someone who needs courage today, and leave a review to help others find hope on their own riverbank.

• Context for Joshua at the Jordan
• Weight of succeeding Moses
• Majority report of fear versus minority report of faith
• Why God’s presence reframes risk
• Practical courage when tired and unsure
• Prayer for strength and perseverance

“God, please give me strength.”

Transcript

Fear Not Friday Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Well, welcome to Fear Not Friday, where every Friday we share a verse where God tells you to fear not, do not be afraid, do not be dismayed, do not be discouraged, do not be ashamed, but fear not.

Joshua 1:6 And Its Setting

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Today is Joshua chapter 1, verse 6, where God tells Joshua, be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people. Well, God's talking about they've come to the River Jordan, to cross the river Jordan, to go into where? The promised land. And to inherit the land. And God said, I swore to your ancestors, to your forefathers, and that'd be Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that this would be the promised land.

The Weight Of Succeeding Moses

SPEAKER_00 0:44

But this verse right now, it's talking about a leadership characteristic of physical strength, physical strength for Joshua. And there are two key reasons. Number one, Moses has just died. And imagine if you're Joshua, you're telling me to replace Moses, the greatest Hebrew prophet ever. How do I replace Moses? Am I even worthy of wearing his shoes or his sandals? I mean, this is Moses who literally climbed the mountain and he saw the face of God. Moses did that. And Joshua said, and this is the same Moses that God sent to Pharaoh. And he performed 10 signs and wonders, ten different plagues, until finally Pharaoh said, I will let your people go. How does anyone replace Moses? But there was a second, a second need for strength.

Spies, Reports, And Giants

SPEAKER_00 1:36

When they came to the river Jordan and they saw the promised land, they sent 12 spies, one from each of the 12 tribes, to go look at the land, to scatter it out and see what's it like. Is this the land God promised? But it came back, there were two reports, a majority report of 10, 10 tribes, a minority report of Joshua and Caleb. You know, being in politics, an elected official for 16 years, I'm very familiar with the majority, a minority report sometimes because I was often in the minority report. So the majority report of 10 tribes came back and said, yes, this is the land of God promised, flowing with milk and honey. We even brought back some of the fruit to show you how big it is, but the land is occupied by giants. People doing ungodly things with giants, and they're so big and strong, we're like little grasshoppers to them. And they are at war all the time, so they're used to fighting, and their cities are very well fortified. We cannot win. Well, that was majority of port, and Joshua and Caleb said, Whoa, wait, wait, wait, we've got a minority report. Joshua and Caleb said, Yes, it is the land God promised. Yes, it is full of milk and honey.

God’s Promise And Personal Courage

SPEAKER_00 2:51

Yes, these are giants doing ungodly things, and the cities are well fortified, but we can cross the Jordan River and we can possess the promised land if God is with us. If God is with us. You see by the need for physical strength. In Joshua 1.6, God gave Joshua the physical strength. He said, Get ready to cross the Jordan River into the promised land. God says, I will be with you just as I was with Moses. I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. You know, my friends, this Friday, no matter what problems you have, wouldn't it be great to know that God tells you, I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. Maybe you need to be bold, to be strong, to be courageous. You need God to give you physical strength. You need to cross your River Jordan or your personal crossing into a promised land. Maybe you're like me so many, many Fridays. I say, Lord, I am so tired, so weak, so spent, so exhausted. God, please give me strength. And if that's your case, then I pray for you, as in Joshua 1.6, that God

Prayer And Closing Blessing

SPEAKER_00 4:03

makes you to be strong and be courageous. And know that God says, I will be with you. I will never leave you, I will never forsake you. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Amen.