Last week, we talked about insecurities and vulnerability. We considered how vulnerability is the stage past insecurity. While insecurity keeps you paralyzed by your limitations, vulnerability embraces those limitations to see the potential for growth. We can do this because of the perfect love we have from Jesus. 

Today, I want to consider vulnerability and its intersection with courage. There is a powerful scene in the Bible at the beginning of the book of Joshua. Upon Moses’s death, Joshua was assigned the leadership of thousands of Israelites and commanded to enter the Promised Land. And at the time, the Israelites were camping in the Plains of Moab. Let’s take a moment to visualize this scene. 

Moses had just passed away. I imagine, for Joshua, this was an acute loss. Moses was Joshua’s mentor and had brought Joshua along on many occasions, like on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24). So Joshua is mourning the loss of his mentor, companion, leader, and friend. And now taking on huge leadership responsibilities. 

One of his leadership responsibilities is to lead the people into Israel. And while he is full of faith, he knows they will encounter opposition. The picture above gives you an idea of the geography. Joshua passed into Israel north of where this picture was taken, but the Plains of Moab and the area east of the Dead Sea and Jordan River are desert lands. 

I imagine that Joshua felt vulnerable. He’s grieving. He’s now the primary leader of thousands. He’s about to face opposition from the people he will encounter in this harsh environment. In this context, we hear Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Why could Joshua be strong and courageous amid his vulnerability? Because of the divine presence. The divine presence is a powerful and consistent theme throughout the whole Bible. From the early pages of Genesis to the final words of Revelation, God’s promise is his presence. 

Why would his promise be different now? If you are vulnerable, have courage because God is with you. Read that again. He is with you. He will never leave you. Yes, you may experience immense grief or face massive opposition. You may have stress that accompanies leadership responsibilities. But you won’t be alone. May that reality fuel your courageous and vulnerable steps.