Be Strong and Courageous

 STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

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. (Joshua 1:9)

WEAK AND AFRAID

Joshua must have been weak and afraid. Throughout the first chapter of Joshua, he is repeatedly reminded to be strong and courageous. Without the sustaining presence of God, I, too, am weak and afraid. Afraid to step. Afraid not to step. Afraid I’ve over-stepped. What made it possible for Joshua to keep marching?

Often, I just want to sit in the between and hold my breath, wondering (or anxious) about what’s next. So often, between flares, between medical appointments, between foods I can eat then suddenly can’t, between leaning on God and avoiding Him, I am weak and afraid. How I long to feel strong and courageous!

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Perhaps, like the Israelites who were between enslavement in Egypt and hope of the Promised Land, we, too, are called to march. One step at a time, for a very long time. Sometimes surrounded by enemies (frustration, misunderstanding, discouragement, anxiety, resignation), yet always covered, understood, and deeply cared for by God.

Acceptance of my illness seemed just to happen. There were some tears and frustration, but often, the marching orders I lived under were it is what it is. Perhaps resignation is more accurate than acceptance as I marched on through doctors and diagnoses, medications and therapists, with no cures and no clear treatment plan.

LIFE IN THE BETWEEN

Life in the between can be a frightening place. Joshua must have needed constant reassurance for God to remind him four times in one chapter to be strong and courageous. Living with chronic illness challenges me not to look too far into the future because then I worry about many things when all I am truly called to do is experience this moment and march on through the now.

At Chronic Joy, you are welcome, accepted, and loved. You are seen and known, cared about, and prayed for. Living in the between, gives us the opportunity to encourage one another, care for one another, and pray for each other. We will sometimes be terrified or discouraged, but together, we can march, plod, or just breathe together. Ultimately, holding tight to the promise that God will never leave us and never forsake us.